By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Burundi on Tuesday announced that it has officially declared its border with neighbouring Rwanda open, the first time in the last seven years, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Shingiro announced.
The border between Burundi and Rwanda had been closed initially in 2015 due to a diplomatic row, which was later followed by health restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to extension of the closure.
Burundi has been consistent in its call for suspects accused of plotting a coup to oust former President Pierre Nkurunziza in 2015 be handed over to it for appropriate actions.
Burundi insists that the suspects live in exile in Rwanda, and must be handed over for the bi-lateral relations between both countries to normalize.
Shingiro, who addressed journalists during a press conference, reaffirmed Burundi’s position that Rwanda should hand over persons Burundi accused of plotting to oust former President Pierre Nkurunziza in 2015.
Rwanda, however, had reopened its border with Burundi several months ago.
