Burundi’s ministry of foreign affiars has officially reopened the border between of the East African country and neibouring Rwabda six years since its closure.
“All the borders of Burundi with its neighboring countries are open”, the Burundian foreign affairs ministry tweeted without much detail on October 22.
On Tuesday (Oct 25), minister Albert Shingiro in a press conference confirmed the border reopening with Rwanda and indicated that Burundi maintains its position of calling on Kigali to return coup-plotters it alleges fled there after trying to overthrow former President Pierre Nkurunziza in 2015.
The border between Burundi and Rwanda had been closed for almost six years, first amid political tensions and then by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rwanda for its part reopened its border with Burundi several months ago.
The border reopening comes afterPresident Ruto William of Kenya urged his East African Community (EAC) partner states to knock off barriers that impede trade across the bloc.