IGIHE English

Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

  • Mexico opens World Cup with win as South Korea rallies past Czech Republic

    Mexico opens World Cup with win as South Korea rallies past Czech Republic

    Forward Julián Quiñones etched his name into World Cup history by scoring the tournament’s opening goal after just nine minutes before veteran striker Raúl Jiménez sealed victory with a second-half header in front of more than 80,000 fans at Mexico City Stadium.

    The victory provided an ideal start for Javier Aguirre’s side, which is seeking to erase memories of its disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    Mexico started brightly and nearly took the lead within five minutes when Jiménez forced South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into an early save. The breakthrough arrived shortly afterward when Erik Lira dispossessed Sphephelo Sithole in midfield and Quiñones drove a low shot through Williams’ legs from just inside the penalty area.

    South Africa managed to keep the deficit at one goal before halftime despite sustained Mexican pressure, with Williams producing another fine save to deny Jiménez while Quiñones also struck the post.

    The match turned decisively in Mexico’s favour early in the second half when Sithole was shown a straight red card for bringing down Jiménez as the striker raced through on goal.

    Moments later, Mexico doubled its lead. Quiñones combined neatly with Jiménez before feeding Roberto Alvarado, whose cross was headed home by the 35-year-old striker at the back post.

    The contest descended into further drama late on as South Africa substitute Themba Zwane was sent off for striking an opponent, while Mexico defender Cesar Montes also received a red card for a late challenge.

    The three dismissals made it the first World Cup opening match in history to feature three red cards and the most in any World Cup game since Portugal’s infamous clash with the Netherlands in 2006.

    “I made an effort to explain to them what a World Cup and an opening match on home soil meant, but they had to experience it for themselves,” Aguirre said after the match.

    Quiñones, named player of the match, said scoring the opening goal of the tournament was a special moment.

    “I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans,” he said.

    Earlier in Guadalajara, South Korea recovered from a goal down to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1.

    After a largely uneventful first half, Czech captain Ladislav Krejci put his side ahead in the 59th minute with a header following a long throw into the penalty area.

    South Korea responded eight minutes later when Hwang Hee-chan equalised with a composed finish after cleverly evading two defenders. The winger then turned provider in the 80th minute, delivering a cross from the right that was converted by Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winning goal.

    The results leave Mexico and South Korea level on three points at the top of Group A. The two sides will meet next Thursday in Guadalajara, while South Africa faces the Czech Republic in Atlanta.

    “It would be important to win the group, but right now the only thing we’re thinking about is the match against Korea,” Aguirre said. “We’re going to take it step by step and see what the future holds.”

    Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez celebrates after scoring in the second half to give his team a 2-0 lead over South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup. The match was played in Mexico City.
    Jiménez was in tears after his goal. The 35-year-old striker recently lost his father. 
    Mexico’s Julián Quiñones opened the scoring with a goal in tne ninth minute of play. 
    Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado, left, vies for the ball with South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba. 
    Modiba defends Alvarado early in the first half. These two teams also opened the 2010 World Cup when the tournament was held in South Africa.
    Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio shows a red card to South Africa’s Themba Zwane late in the second half. After video review, it was determined that Zwane had lashed out and caught an opponent with his hand. Sampaio issued three red cards in the match, including one late to Mexican defender César Montes.
    South Korea’s Lee Tae-seok (right) and the Czech Republic’s Vladimir Coufal vie for the ball during a Group A match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Thursday. 
  • ‘RDF is not AFC/M23’: Rwanda accuses HRW of selective accountability in Eastern Congo report

    ‘RDF is not AFC/M23’: Rwanda accuses HRW of selective accountability in Eastern Congo report

    Rwanda has strongly rejected allegations by Human Rights Watch (HRW) linking the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to forced recruitment, arbitrary detention and other abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing the rights organisation of relying on unverified claims while overlooking the role of armed groups backed by Kinshasa.

    The response follows the publication of a 78-page HRW report on June 10, which alleges that Rwandan military forces and the M23 rebel movement carried out large-scale forced recruitment and abusive detention of captured combatants and civilians in North and South Kivu provinces between mid-2024 and December 2025.

    In a statement posted on X, Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed the report as part of a long-standing pattern in HRW’s reporting on Rwanda.

    “Human Rights Watch on Rwanda is a 30-year pattern: anonymous claims, no site visits or forensics, sanctions first and investigation later,” Makolo wrote.

    She argued that HRW ignored its own findings regarding the involvement of other actors in the conflict, including the Democratic Republic of Congo’s military, the FDLR militia, Wazalendo groups, foreign mercenaries and Burundian forces.

    “It should be clear that the RDF is not AFC/M23,” Makolo said. “Any serious investigation requires impartiality, access, forensic rigour, due process, and not conclusions announced in advance, or bombastic calls for sanctions.”

    Makolo added that the Washington peace accords remain “the path forward” for addressing insecurity in eastern DRC through dialogue, accountability and regional cooperation.

    Rwanda rejects allegations

    In a more detailed statement issued by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, Rwanda faulted HRW’s attempt to treat the RDF and M23 as a single actor.

    “Alleged M23 conduct cannot be treated as RDF conduct,” the statement said.

    The government accused HRW of applying “selective accountability” by focusing primarily on Rwanda and M23 while paying insufficient attention to abuses committed by Congolese government forces and their allies.

    According to Kigali, HRW’s own report acknowledges that the Congolese army has supported armed groups opposed to M23, including the FDLR, a militia formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

    The statement also cited passages in the report saying Congolese authorities armed, financed and coordinated operations with Wazalendo militias and that government support for such groups contributed to human rights violations.

    “Selective accountability applied with selective investigative depth is not accountability,” the government said.

    Questions over methodology

    Rwanda also poked holes in HRW’s methodology.

    The government argued that the report relied heavily on anonymous testimony and lacked on-the-ground forensic investigations.

    According to Kigali, no investigators visited the locations where the alleged abuses occurred, no exhumations were conducted and no forensic examinations were undertaken.

    The statement also criticised HRW for presenting allegations as established facts while acknowledging uncertainty in sections of the report dealing with legal assessments and satellite imagery.

    “An investigation whose conclusions are announced in advance is not an investigation,” the statement said, while reiterating Rwanda’s support for “genuine, independent investigation” based on access, forensic evidence and due process.

    FDLR threat

    On the FDLR, Rwanda highlighted the militia as a key security threat and accused HRW of failing to adequately examine its role and links to Congolese government forces.

    The government argued that any assessment of the conflict must address root causes of insecurity in eastern DRC, including the continued presence of the FDLR near Rwanda’s border.

    Kigali also accused HRW of failing to scrutinise alleged violations of the Washington Accords by Kinshasa while placing disproportionate focus on Rwanda and M23.

    Rwanda said it remains committed to regional peace initiatives and to pursuing security, accountability and cooperation through diplomatic processes.

    “The Washington Accords are the most credible path forward,” the government said, adding that Rwanda would continue to support “a regional solution rooted in dialogue, fairness, and partnership.”

  • UEFA appoints Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate Super Cup after World Cup setback

    UEFA appoints Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate Super Cup after World Cup setback

    In a statement released on Thursday, UEFA announced that the 34-year-old Somali official will take charge of the prestigious season-opening clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.

    The appointment is one of the first high-profile initiatives under a recently signed memorandum of understanding between UEFA and CAF, which aims to strengthen cooperation in areas including refereeing development. It is being hailed as a significant recognition of Artan’s standing among the world’s elite referees.

    Artan, who has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018, was selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. However, he was unable to participate after being refused entry into the United States, ending what would have been a historic appearance as the first Somali referee at football’s biggest tournament.

    Somalia is among nearly 40 countries affected by recent travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s immigration policy overhaul.

    Artan returned to Mogadishu to a hero’s welcome yesterday, with supporters and football officials celebrating his achievements despite the disappointment surrounding the World Cup setback.

    UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said the decision to appoint Artan reflects both his exceptional refereeing abilities and football’s power to unite people across borders.

    “Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” Čeferin said. “Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.”

    Artan has steadily built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading match officials. Among the most notable fixtures of his career was the second leg of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final. His performances earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025.

    CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe welcomed UEFA’s decision, describing it as recognition of both Artan’s achievements and the growing influence of African referees on the global stage.

    “Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said. “His appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and his receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award are recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys.”

    UEFA announced that the 34-year-old Somali official will take charge of the prestigious season-opening clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
  • UK commits Rwf 1.6 billion to support Rwanda’s Ebola preparedness

    UK commits Rwf 1.6 billion to support Rwanda’s Ebola preparedness

    The support will back key elements of Rwanda’s National Ebola Preparedness and Contingency Plan, with a focus on strengthening surveillance and early detection systems, improving Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in high-risk areas, including border points.

    The programme will also support risk communication and community engagement initiatives aimed at ensuring that communities have access to clear and accurate information on prevention measures and disease transmission.

    In parallel, the UK will provide an additional £800,000 to Burundi to support its Preparedness and Response Plan for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, targeting similar priority areas, including surveillance, IPC, WASH, and public awareness.

    Across the region, the UK will also invest in strengthening data and information management systems to improve risk monitoring and enhance coordination in the event of outbreaks. The programmes will be implemented through partners working in support of national government plans under the UK’s Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa Programme (TDDAP2).

    The British High Commission said the initiative builds on recent collaboration in responding to public health emergencies and reflects the UK’s commitment to supporting partner countries in strengthening health security and preventing outbreaks before they escalate.

    Development Director at the British High Commission in Kigali, Billy Stewart, said the support is aimed at protecting lives through stronger preparedness systems.

    “At the heart of this support is a simple goal: saving lives,” he said. “By strengthening preparedness, improving prevention measures, and supporting communities with clear information, the UK is helping Rwanda and Burundi reduce the risk of Ebola outbreaks and protect their people.”

    The announcement comes as health authorities across the region continue to monitor Ebola outbreaks affecting parts of East and Central Africa, involving the Bundibugyo strain, a particularly concerning variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

    Health officials say this makes surveillance, early detection and rapid response critical to containing the disease. Recent data indicates that the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 635 confirmed cases and at least 127 deaths, while Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed cases and two deaths, with infections reported in Kampala, Wakiso, and western border districts.

    In Rwanda, officials have moved to reassure the public that robust prevention systems remain in place. Speaking during a June 6 briefing, Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva said the country has strengthened surveillance, prevention and response systems to guard against potential importation of the virus while maintaining normal economic and social activity.

    “The Ebola outbreak continues to be reported in the eastern region of Africa. However, Rwanda has strengthened its prevention measures and monitoring, and we are confident in protecting the lives of our citizens without disrupting economic activities and the normal social life of the population,” he said.

    Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said Rwanda’s preparedness strategy is built on five pillars: public awareness and communication, surveillance, detection capacity, response capability, and human resources. He added that Rwanda has strengthened early detection systems, particularly at border points, with the ability to return test results within hours.

    He also noted that ongoing simulation exercises and training for health workers and emergency responders are part of efforts to ensure rapid and coordinated response in the event of an outbreak.

    The Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre continue to monitor developments in neighbouring countries closely and have urged the public to remain vigilant, observe hygiene practices, and report symptoms early.

    Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana visited Rusizi District in late May to assess ongoing Ebola preparedness efforts. During the visit, he observed a simulation exercise and reviewed key response measures, including surveillance and testing systems, as well as isolation and treatment centres.
  • Rwanda earmarks 63% of Rwf 7.8 trillion budget for economic transformation

    Rwanda earmarks 63% of Rwf 7.8 trillion budget for economic transformation

    The budget, presented to Parliament on Thursday by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa, represents a 12% increase from the revised Rwf 7.0 trillion budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year.

    Murangwa said the spending plan is designed to respond to global economic pressures while maintaining focus on priority sectors that drive long-term resilience.

    “This budget reflects the realities of a challenging global environment while staying focused on what matters most: boosting agriculture, creating jobs, and building a resilient economy,” he said.

    “We have prioritised agriculture inputs and irrigation, continued investment in infrastructure and energy, and made room to protect the most vulnerable.”

    He added that the goal is to accelerate implementation of national development programmes without undermining macroeconomic stability.

    Economic transformation takes lion’s share

    According to the budget breakdown aligned with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), the economic transformation pillar receives the largest allocation at 63%, equivalent to Rwf 4.9 trillion.

    The funding will support agricultural productivity, expansion of electricity, water and sanitation services, transport infrastructure, and urban and rural settlement development. It will also finance initiatives aimed at climate resilience, local manufacturing, export growth, financial sector development, and job creation.

    This scale of investment is underpinned by a period of strong economic performance. According to official data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda and the World Bank, the country’s real GDP grew by 9.4% last year, surpassing the government’s initial 7.0% target.

    The expansion was driven by an 11% increase in the industrial sector, supported by construction and a 33% rise in mining activities, alongside 9% growth in the services sector.

    Social and governance spending

    The social transformation pillar is allocated 22% of the budget, or Rwf 1.7 trillion, to strengthen healthcare and education systems, expand social protection, improve nutrition services, and support gender and family programmes.

    Transformational governance accounts for 15%, or Rwf 1.2 trillion, and will focus on service delivery, public finance management, justice sector reforms, peace and security, crime prevention, and economic diplomacy.

    Financing structure

    Total resources for the budget comprise Rwf 5.3 trillion in domestic revenues, Rwf 548.3 billion in external grants, and Rwf 2 trillion in external loans.

    On the expenditure side, Rwf 3 trillion is allocated to development spending, while Rwf 4.8 trillion will go to recurrent expenditure.

    The presentation comes as East African Community member states table their 2026/27 fiscal year budgets under the theme: “Deepening Regional Integration and Economic Resilience through Improved Regional Security, Domestic Revenue Mobilisation and Digital Transformation for Inclusive Growth.”

    The budget, presented to Parliament on Thursday by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa, represents a 12% increase from the revised Rwf 7.0 trillion budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
    Murangwa said the spending plan is designed to respond to global economic pressures while maintaining focus on priority sectors that drive long-term resilience.
    Parliamentarians follow the Finance Minister’s budget presentation on Thursday afternoon.

  • MP Venuste Icyitegetse resigns

    MP Venuste Icyitegetse resigns

    In a statement, Parliament said Icyitegetse formally notified the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of his decision through a resignation letter.

    Before his resignation, Icyitegetse served on the parliamentary Committee on National Budget and Patrimony, which oversees the preparation and execution of the national budget and the management of state assets.

    He was elected to Parliament in 2024 on the ruling RPF-Inkotanyi ticket as a youth representative.

    Efforts to reach Icyitegetse for comment on his resignation were unsuccessful, as his phone was unavailable at the time of publication.

    Venuste Icyitegetse was elected to Parliament in 2024 on the ruling RPF-Inkotanyi ticket as a youth representative.
  • Iran says U.S. attacks turn April truce “meaningless”

    Iran says U.S. attacks turn April truce “meaningless”

    The ministry made the remarks in a statement, strongly condemning Thursday’s U.S. strikes on several areas in Iran and stressing that the U.S. government bears responsibility for the “very dangerous” consequences of the renewed attacks.

    The U.S. “crimes and widespread attacks” on Iran were in “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and the fundamental international law principles, it said, calling for respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    It warned that the U.S. army’s use of the territories and facilities of certain countries in West Asia to prepare for and carry out “aggressive attacks” against Iran has placed those states “on the aggressors’ side.”

    The ministry reaffirmed Iran’s determination to take action against the origin and source of the “aggressive attacks” in exercising its inherent right to legitimate self-defense, while reminding regional countries of their legal and moral responsibility to prevent the U.S. army’s use of their territories, facilities and resources for committing the “crime of aggression.”

    It also called on UN member states to oppose violations of the UN Charter by the United States and Israel.

    The U.S. Central Command said early Thursday its forces had made strikes on multiple Iranian targets in retaliation for Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

    Following the U.S. attacks, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, citing security concerns.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps and the Iranian army said they had launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

    Iran, the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting. In recent weeks, Tehran and Washington have reportedly exchanged proposals through Pakistan’s mediation and have been working on a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict.

    The Iranian foreign ministry said Thursday that fresh U.S. strikes on Iran have effectively rendered an April ceasefire between the two countries “meaningless.”

  • Iranian, U.S. forces clash at sea as Iran announces full closure of Strait of Hormuz

    Iranian, U.S. forces clash at sea as Iran announces full closure of Strait of Hormuz

    Initial reports indicated that U.S. ships near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by missiles and drones launched by Iranian armed forces.

    Blasts were also heard in the counties of Sirik and Minab and the port city of Bandar Abbas, all in Hormozgan province, as well as on Qeshm and Hengam islands, while air defense systems were activated west of the capital Tehran and in the southern province of Fars, the semi-official Mehr news agency said.

    Following the incidents, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all kinds of vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, owing to security threats in the waterway.

    The headquarters cited the continuation of the U.S. “malicious acts” and attacks earlier in the day in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, saying any vessel trying to pass through the strait will be targeted.

    The developments followed an announcement by the U.S. Central Command on social media platform X, stating its forces had begun launching “additional self-defense strikes” against multiple targets in Iran in response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

    This photo taken with a mobile phone shows merchant vessels stranded in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, near Khasab, a small town in northern Oman, May 29, 2026. Clashes erupted early Thursday between Iranian and U.S. forces in the waters of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s main military command, announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • President Kagame appoints new ministers and ambassadors

    President Kagame appoints new ministers and ambassadors

    The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva on June 10, pursuant to Articles 111, 112 and 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda.

    In the Ministry of Infrastructure, Damien Murwanashyaka was appointed Minister, replacing Dr. Jimmy Gasore, who had served in the position since September 2023.

    Damien Murwanashyaka is set to take over as the Minister of Infrastructure.

    Murwanashyaka joins the government from the private sector, where he brings more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. A Professional Civil Engineer and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Murwanashyaka most recently served as the Managing Director of Preferred Contractors.

    Before that, his senior leadership career included roles as the CEO of UDL, Chief Quantity Surveyor at Real Contractors Ltd, and Projects Manager at ROKO Construction Ltd. He also held consultant leadership roles at Century Engineering and Contractors Ltd and Gasabo 3D Design Ltd.

    He graduated with a First Class Honors Degree in Civil Engineering and later earned an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University.

    He will be assisted by two Ministers of State, Armand Zingiro and Col. Claudien Bizimungu. Zingiro moves from the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), where he served as Chief Executive Officer, while Bizimungu previously held senior command responsibilities within the Rwanda Defence Force’s engineering structures.

    The new structure also reflects a shift in the ministry’s leadership arrangement, as Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, who previously served as State Minister in charge of Infrastructure, is no longer in the lineup.

    Judith Uwizeye has been appointed as the Minister of Public Service and Labour.

    In the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, Judith Uwizeye returns to Cabinet as Minister, replacing Christine Nkulikiyinka, who has been nominated as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Spain. Uwizeye previously served as Minister in the Office of the President.

    In the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe has been promoted from Permanent Secretary to Minister, replacing Prudence Sebahizi, who had held the portfolio since August 2024. Kajangwe previously served in senior roles within the same ministry, including overseeing trade and investment functions.

    Antoine-Marie Kajangwe has been appointed as the Minister of Trade and Industry, replacing Prudence Sebahizi.

    The President also made a series of diplomatic appointments, nominating retired Lt Gen Karenzi Karake as Rwanda’s ambassador to China, Maj Gen Emmanuel Bayingana as ambassador to Israel, and retired Col Jeannot Ruhunga as ambassador to Poland, while Chantal Tuyishimire was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

    In state-owned institutions, Louise Kanyonga, who has been serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Zigama CSS. Kanyonga previously held several senior positions at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), including Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer and Registrar General.

    Maximilien Byilingiro was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), while Michelle Umurungi, who currently serves as Chief Investment Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, was named Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Investments at RSSB.

    The latest appointments come as the government continues efforts to strengthen leadership across strategic sectors including infrastructure, trade, energy, public service, and diplomacy.

    The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva on June 10, pursuant to Articles 111, 112 and 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda.
  • It is Burundi’s fault – Minister Nduhungirehe on strained Rwanda–Burundi relations

    It is Burundi’s fault – Minister Nduhungirehe on strained Rwanda–Burundi relations

    Speaking in an interview with B&B Kigali on June 10, 2026, Nduhungirehe said Rwanda remains willing to restore normal relations, but accused Burundi of repeatedly undermining efforts to stabilise bilateral ties.

    Relations between the two neighbouring countries deteriorated significantly in 2015 following an attempted coup against then-President Pierre Nkurunziza. Several individuals involved in the attempt fled to Rwanda, after which Burundi closed its borders with Rwanda.

    In 2022, both countries moved to normalise relations and reopened their borders. However, tensions resurfaced in late 2023 following an attack in the Gatumba area of Bujumbura Province by the armed group RED Tabara. Burundi subsequently closed its borders again in January 2024.

    At the time, Burundi accused Rwanda of supporting RED Tabara, an allegation Kigali denied, insisting it does not cooperate with groups intent on destabilising neighbouring states.

    Renewed tensions and diplomatic engagement

    According to Nduhungirehe, further strain followed statements and developments in the region, including remarks made by regional leaders and renewed accusations exchanged between Kigali and Bujumbura.

    He cited comments made in January 2024 in Kinshasa by Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who, during a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressed support for efforts to mobilise Rwandan youth against the government.

    The minister also referred to earlier remarks by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, who in late 2023 said his country’s forces would act against Rwanda, describing this as part of a broader regional climate of hostility.

    He argued that such statements contributed to worsening relations, particularly given the regional context and ongoing insecurity in eastern DR Congo.

    Nduhungirehe further noted that Burundian troops deployed to eastern DR Congo were cooperating with the FDLR militia group, alongside Congolese forces.

    He stated that while the Burundian deployment was officially framed as part of operations against armed groups, including RED Tabara, their activities instead indicated coordination with the FDLR.

    “They were not deployed against RED Tabara. They were deployed to assist the Congolese army and the FDLR in the plan that President Tshisekedi mentioned during his campaign, and the same plan President Ndayishimiye spoke about in Kinshasa in January 2024,” he said.

    He added that Burundian forces had operated in areas closer to the Rwandan border in North Kivu, despite RED Tabara being mainly active in South Kivu, suggesting, in his view, a different operational focus.

    Attempts at dialogue

    The minister noted that following the capture of Goma and Bukavu by the AFC/M23 coalition in early 2025, Burundi requested dialogue with Rwanda in an effort to ease tensions.

    He said intelligence and security officials from both countries met at the border on three separate occasions and reached a number of understandings aimed at de-escalation.

    However, he revealed that progress was later undermined by renewed public accusations from the Burundian leadership.

    “What happened after that? After that, President Ndayishimiye went on BBC and France 24… accusing Rwanda of planning to attack Burundi. We then asked our Burundian counterparts what had changed, given that we had reached agreements,” he said.

    He added that further meetings were facilitated by the United States after AFC/M23 captured Uvira in early December 2025, during which security officials from both countries again met twice at the border and reached additional understandings.

    Nduhungirehe said that despite these engagements, Burundian forces remain present in eastern DR Congo and continue, in Rwanda’s view, to cooperate with elements of the FDLR.

    He reiterated Rwanda’s position that it seeks peaceful relations with Burundi through dialogue, but argued that Bujumbura has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to sustaining diplomatic progress.

    “Rwanda wants good relations with Burundi, dialogue, and resolution of outstanding issues, but Burundi does not show the willingness,” he said, calling on Burundi to end any cooperation with the FDLR militia group, which was formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

    Rwandan and Burundian diplomats agreed to ease tensions, but President Ndayishimiye later worsened the situation.

    Speaking in an interview with B&B Kigali on June 10, 2026, Nduhungirehe said Rwanda remains willing to restore normal relations, but accused Burundi of repeatedly undermining efforts to stabilise bilateral ties.