Burundi blames Rwanda after RED-Tabara rebels kill nine

The Burundian government on Monday once again accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing rebels blamed for an attack on Sunday in Bubanza province, Northwest Burundi.

Burundi said in a statement that the RED-Tabara group killed nine people, including a woman and a soldier, and injured five in the attack on February 25, 2024.

"The Government of Burundi condemns this despicable and barbaric act directed against an innocent population caught in the midst of mourning," a statement from the Burundian presidency said

"The Government of Burundi further deplores the behaviour of Rwanda which maintains, trains, and arms the terrorist group RED-Tabara which continues to mourn Burundi with attacks targeting innocent populations and demands the extradition of the mastermind of this terrorist group hosted in Rwanda."

Burundi did not give evidence to support its claims, which Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame, has denied.

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye sent a condolence message to the victims' families saying, "Terrorism won't discourage us from searching for the good of our people."

The group, which has a base in the eastern DRC province of South Kivu, emerged in 2011 and is now the most active of the rebel groups in Burundi, with an estimated force of between 500 and 800 fighters.

Last December, it killed 20 people near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The RED-Tabara is accused of waging deadly violence in the East African country since 2015 but had not been active since September 2021, when it carried out a series of attacks, including on the airport in the main city of Bujumbura.

Relations between Burundi and Rwanda have strained since the December attack, with Burundian authorities branding Rwanda a "bad neighbour".

Rwanda has denied allegations of backing the RED-Tabara as well as the M23 rebels who have staged attacks in the DRC.