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Burundi's Nyamitwe accuses Rwanda of training rebels | Burundi's Nyamitwe accuses Rwanda of training rebels |
(35 minutes later) | |
Burundi has accused neighbouring Rwanda of training rebels seeking to destabilise the country. | Burundi has accused neighbouring Rwanda of training rebels seeking to destabilise the country. |
It is hosting Burundi's failed coup leader, and helping rebels launch cross-border attacks, Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe told the BBC. | It is hosting Burundi's failed coup leader, and helping rebels launch cross-border attacks, Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe told the BBC. |
Rwanda denies the allegation, and says Burundi is trying to deflect attention from its own problems. | Rwanda denies the allegation, and says Burundi is trying to deflect attention from its own problems. |
The two governments have a tense relationship, with both countries sharing a similar ethnic make-up. | The two governments have a tense relationship, with both countries sharing a similar ethnic make-up. |
Burundi has been hit by a spate of assassinations and attempted assassinations since President Pierre Nkurunziza won disputed elections in July. | Burundi has been hit by a spate of assassinations and attempted assassinations since President Pierre Nkurunziza won disputed elections in July. |
He survived a coup attempt in March. It was led by renegade Gen Godefroid Niyombare, who opposed his bid for a third term. | He survived a coup attempt in March. It was led by renegade Gen Godefroid Niyombare, who opposed his bid for a third term. |
Gen Niyombare has not been seen in public since then. | Gen Niyombare has not been seen in public since then. |
About 70,000 Burundians are living in refugee camps in Rwanda after fleeing the unrest. | About 70,000 Burundians are living in refugee camps in Rwanda after fleeing the unrest. |
Mr Nyamitwe told the BBC Kinyarwanda service that Rwanda was "facilitating" attacks that the coup plotters were orchestrating in Burundi. | Mr Nyamitwe told the BBC Kinyarwanda service that Rwanda was "facilitating" attacks that the coup plotters were orchestrating in Burundi. |
"We also have extensive information about recruitments in refugee camps, especially in Mahama refugee camp, where refugees are taken for military training, and some of the trainers are Rwandans," he added. | "We also have extensive information about recruitments in refugee camps, especially in Mahama refugee camp, where refugees are taken for military training, and some of the trainers are Rwandans," he added. |
On Tuesday, Rwanda's foreign ministry official Olivier Nduhungirehe accused Burundi of harbouring rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) group, which was linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. | |
Mr Nyamitwe said a fact-finding team, sent to Burundi by regional leaders, found there was no truth to the allegation. | Mr Nyamitwe said a fact-finding team, sent to Burundi by regional leaders, found there was no truth to the allegation. |
The team visited Burundi after Rwanda made similar allegations in the past, he added. | The team visited Burundi after Rwanda made similar allegations in the past, he added. |
Both Rwanda and Burundi have long experienced ethnic conflict between a Hutu majority and a Tutsi minority which has traditionally been dominant. | Both Rwanda and Burundi have long experienced ethnic conflict between a Hutu majority and a Tutsi minority which has traditionally been dominant. |
Rwanda sees the mainly Hutu FDLR as a major threat to its stability, and is pushing for its disarmament. | Rwanda sees the mainly Hutu FDLR as a major threat to its stability, and is pushing for its disarmament. |
Mr Nkurunziza is a Hutu former rebel leader, while his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame is a Tutsi. | Mr Nkurunziza is a Hutu former rebel leader, while his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame is a Tutsi. |
However, the unrest in Burundi is not linked to ethnic divisions, analysts say, and the two presidents used to enjoy good relations, even playing football together. | However, the unrest in Burundi is not linked to ethnic divisions, analysts say, and the two presidents used to enjoy good relations, even playing football together. |