Rwanda vehemently denies allegations made by Burundi regarding its involvement in arming rebels accused of a recent grenade attack. Despite Burundi’s assertions, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, emphasized in a statement on Sunday that Rwanda is not connected to such reprehensible acts and urged Burundi to address its internal issues without implicating Rwanda.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated since earlier this year when Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye revived accusations of Rwandan support for the RED-Tabara rebels, who oppose the Burundian government.
Burundi’s interior ministry attributed Friday’s grenade attack, which injured 38 people, to the RED-Tabara rebels and alleged Rwandan backing. However, the rebel group denied responsibility for the incident.
Burundi considers RED-Tabara a terrorist organization and accuses its members of involvement in a failed coup attempt in 2015. The group, which emerged in 2011, has been accused of multiple attacks in Burundi since 2015.
In January, Rwanda accused Burundi of closing their shared border, following an attack that Burundi attributed to the RED-Tabara group.
