Burundi expels Rwandan diplomat
Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) at a past event. Burundi has expelled a Rwandan diplomat, as tensions between the two East African countries intensify. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The expelled diplomat — Desire Nyaruhirira, a first minister councillor at the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi — has served the mission for the last ten years.
- The Burundian authorities also expelled several Rwandan traders in Kayanza, a city located in northern Burundi, heightening the diplomatic tension.
Burundi has expelled a Rwandan diplomat, as tensions between the two East African countries intensify.
Though the reason for the expulsion is not clear, the two countries have been locked up in a diplomatic row for several months.
The expelled diplomat — Desire Nyaruhirira, a first minister councillor at the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi — has served the mission for the last 10 years.
Mr Nyaruhirira was not in Burundi when he was expelled.
The Burundian authorities also expelled several Rwandan traders in Kayanza, a city located in northern Burundi, heightening the diplomatic tension.
Kigali is yet to officially respond on the expulsion.
“What I can confirm is that the envoy has been expelled. The grounds of the expulsion remain the same,” a highly placed Rwandan official told The EastAfrican.
In Burundi, the government had not also issued a statement about the expulsion of the diplomat, leaving many people guessing.
Read full story here in The EastAfrican.
