Rwanda says it is not ready to hand over Burundian nationals accused of involvement in the failed 2015 coup attempt against former President Pierre Nkurunziza, reopening a long-running dispute between the two neighbours. Rwandan authorities have maintained that the issue cannot be resolved without conditions being addressed and an agreement being reached between the two governments.
The dispute is significant because it touches on one of the most sensitive episodes in Burundi’s recent political history and comes while Kigali and Bujumbura are still dealing with wider disagreements over security, armed groups and relations around eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The latest disagreement also reflects different accounts from the two governments about the progress of their diplomatic discussions.
Why The Suspects Are Still In Rwanda.
The failed coup of 2015 triggered a major political and security crisis in Burundi. Some people accused by the Burundian authorities of involvement in the attempted overthrow of Nkurunziza fled the country, with Rwanda becoming one of the destinations for people escaping the unrest.
Burundi has subsequently sought the return of people it considers responsible for the coup attempt and related security activities. Rwanda, however, has resisted simply transferring the individuals to Burundian authorities, maintaining that the matter requires diplomatic arrangements and assurances.
The disagreement has remained unresolved despite attempts to improve relations between the two countries.
Kigali And Bujumbura Give Different Accounts.
Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has said previous negotiations on the extradition issue failed because Burundi did not fulfil conditions presented by Rwanda. He has also indicated that the people Burundi wants returned are not necessarily all located in Rwanda, adding another complication to the matter.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, however, has given a different account of the diplomatic process. Burundi has maintained that discussions concerning the return of people accused of coup-related crimes have taken place and that commitments made during those engagements have not been implemented.
The conflicting accounts mean that the precise status of any proposed extradition arrangement remains disputed.
The Dispute Goes Beyond The Coup Suspects.
The extradition issue is part of a much broader deterioration in relations between Rwanda and Burundi.
The two governments have repeatedly accused each other of supporting or tolerating armed groups operating against the other country’s interests. Their positions have also been affected by the wider conflict in eastern DRC, where Burundi has deployed forces and Rwanda has faced international accusations concerning its relationship with the M23 rebellion.
Rwanda rejects accusations that it supports destabilising activities against Burundi, while Bujumbura has repeatedly raised concerns about armed opponents operating from or through Rwandan territory. These competing accusations have made the extradition question considerably more difficult to resolve.
A Refugee Issue Has Become A Security Issue.
For Rwanda, the people at the centre of the dispute are not simply suspects in a criminal case. Many Burundians who fled after the 2015 crisis initially entered Rwanda as refugees or political exiles.
That creates an additional complication for any extradition arrangement because Kigali would need to balance Burundi’s demands with questions surrounding the treatment and protection of people who sought refuge on Rwandan territory.
The two countries have made attempts at reconciliation in recent years, including efforts to restore movement and economic relations. Yet the unresolved issue of people wanted by Burundi continues to expose the limits of that rapprochement.
Regional Pressure Is Growing.
The disagreement is unfolding in a region already dealing with overlapping conflicts and diplomatic tensions.
Burundi is deeply involved in security operations connected to the eastern DRC conflict, while Rwanda remains a central actor in the wider regional debate over the M23 conflict and the activities of armed groups in the Great Lakes.
That means a dispute over several coup suspects can have consequences beyond the individuals themselves. Any deterioration between Kigali and Bujumbura could affect border relations, trade and cooperation on regional security.
For now, Rwanda’s position is that extradition cannot proceed under the circumstances outlined by its foreign minister, while Burundi continues to demand action against people it accuses of involvement in the 2015 coup and subsequent destabilisation efforts. The two governments therefore remain divided not only over the suspects but also over what was agreed during their diplomatic engagements.
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