News about Burundi’s decision to close borders with Rwanda started circulating on the evening of Thursday 11th January 2023.

The Government of Rwanda has through a statement indicated that it learnt about the decision through the media and condemned the decision which hinders regional cooperation and integration.

“The Government of Rwanda has learned through media reports of the unilateral decision by the Government of Burundi to again close its borders with Rwanda,” reads part of the statement.

“This unfortunate decision will restrict the free movement of people and goods between the two countries, and violates the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community,” concludes the statement.

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.

Burundi’s decision to close borders with Rwanda went public on the evening of Thursday 11th January 2023.