Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, questioned Burundi’s willingness to resolve its disputes with Rwanda, saying its position on the FDLR had made continued dialogue between the two countries difficult.
Nduhungirehe made the remarks in an interview broadcast by Agasaro Kaburaga, responding to recent statements by Burundi’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Edouard Bizimana, concerning the role of the FDLR in the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bizimana had said on X that the FDLR was “a pretext used by Rwanda” to conceal what he described as the real causes of the conflict in the DRC.
Nduhungirehe said Bizimana had expressed a similar position before his appointment to the Burundian government in August 2025 and questioned why he continued to hold that view while Burundi was presiding over the African Union.
He noted that the foreign affairs minister of the country holding the AU presidency also chairs the organisation’s Executive Council, arguing that Bizimana’s remarks appeared to contradict positions taken by the continental body, including its support for the Washington peace agreements.
“It is therefore surprising to hear the president of the AU Executive Council questioning the decisions of various bodies of the organization he leads, which supported the Washington agreements, which notably stipulate that the Congolese government must eradicate the FDLR. This is surprising and not befitting the position he holds,” Nduhungirehe said.
The minister also maintained that the FDLR continued to exist and cooperate with the DRC government, adding that Burundi had information about that cooperation.
He said the threat posed by the group should not be minimised and argued that its fighters should be eradicated.
Asked about the state of relations between Kigali and Gitega and whether discussions were continuing to resolve their differences, Nduhungirehe said the last exchanges between the two sides had taken place last year, particularly after developments in Goma and Bukavu.
He said remarks subsequently made by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye contributed to a further deterioration in relations between the two countries.
Nduhungirehe also referred to discussions between Rwandan and Burundian representatives in December 2025 following developments in Uvira, saying the talks were intended to ease tensions.
He said the situation deteriorated again after President Ndayishimiye made further statements concerning Rwanda.
“It is therefore difficult to engage in and maintain a dialogue with someone who does not want it. This year, no dialogue has taken place, contrary to what the Burundian president claimed when he stated that discussions had taken place five months ago and that we had accepted his request regarding those accused of attempting a coup. This did not happen. He invented it,” Nduhungirehe said.
Nduhungirehe said Kigali’s main concern with Gitega was what he described as cooperation between Burundian forces and FDLR fighters operating in eastern DRC, arguing that such cooperation posed a threat to Rwanda’s national security.
Relations between Rwanda and Burundi deteriorated sharply at the end of 2023, leading to the closure of their land border in January 2024. Travel between the two countries has continued by air.
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