During end-of-year 2023 address, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye said that his country would close borders with Rwanda , accusing the neighbouring country of supporting RED Tabara rebel group .

Rwanda vehemently rejected the allegations as unfounded, given that the areas where RED Tabara maneuvered through to attack Burundi , are not connected to Rwanda.

IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that all borders with Rwanda were closed from 13:00 p.m. on Thursday 11th January 2024.

The decision was taken by Burundian government but has not yet released a statement explaining reasons for the closure.

Some Rwandans who tried to cross to Burundi have told IGIHE that they were immediately forced to return to Rwanda.

IGIHE has, for instance, learnt that Ruhwa border connecting Rwanda through Bugarama sector in Rusizi District to Burundi, has been closed at 13:15 p.m.

During these hours, 35 Rwandans who tried to cross were handed back.

The fate of Rwandans running businesses in Burundi remains amidst the closure.

Rwanda-Burundi borders were last closed between 2015 and 2022.

Since then, both countries embarked on a new journey to normalize ties , even though Burundi insisted that it needs coup plot suspects who fled to Rwanda returned home.

However, Rwanda indicated that it would be against ratified international refugee convention.