A farmer transports bananas to Bujumbura, Burundi. Burundi traders and farmers have decried the recent government’s move to ban export of foodstuff to neighbouring Rwanda.

IN SUMMARY

  • Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since last year, with Burundi accusing Rwanda of supporting and training rebels to fight President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government. Kigali denies the accusations.
  • But the decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda as well as stopping free entry and movement of people from either side, has been seen as the final straw for the bilateral ties between the two countries.
  • Rwanda has criticised the decisions by Burundi, saying it contravenes trade and free movement protocols put in place by the East African Community.

The recent decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda has seen a further deterioration of relations between the two neighbours.

Two weeks ago, Burundi banned the export of fruits and vegetables to Rwanda and closed the border between the two countries leaving hundreds of travellers stranded. Officials in Bujumbura said that the country was retaliating against Kigali for “destabilising” the country.

Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since last year, with Burundi accusing Rwanda of supporting and training rebels to fight President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government. Kigali denies the accusations.

But the decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda as well as stopping free entry and movement of people from either side, has been seen as the final straw for the bilateral ties between the two countries.

“Our businesses have been affected. From Burundi, we have been buying vegetables and fruits, which have a ready market in Rwanda. We have been talking to our fellow traders in Kirundo and Cibitoke provinces, they are also stranded with their merchandise,” said Gaspard Nkurunziza, an importer.

According to the Xinhua news agency, traders in Burundi have complained to the government over the ban, which has led to their produce going to waste, but officials remain reluctant to lift the ban.

Rwanda has criticised the decisions by Burundi, saying it contravenes trade and free movement protocols put in place by the East African Community.

Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Francois Kanimba said that the decision by Burundi was a setback to regional integration, but denied reports that the move would harm his country’s economy.

“The decision will not harm us because we don’t import much from Burundi. Our concern is that it violates the free trade area and free movement of people and goods protocols of the EAC. That is what concerns us most; otherwise the impact will be felt more by Burundian farmers and the Burundian economy,” Mr Kanimba said.

Last week, Burundi blocked the entry of Rwandan and Ugandan registered buses into the country, accusing the transport companies of contravening the exports ban.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded and forced to cross over by foot and seek alternative transport means across the border.

Burundi’s Second Vice-President Joseph Butore warned residents of border provinces against selling their produce to Rwanda, adding that those who will contravene the ban would face serious consequences.

The Burundian VP was quoted as saying that, “We cannot sell to Rwanda what we produce ourselves because that country wants to fight against us.”

Burundian police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye told Xinhua that the restriction was part of the measure taken by the government to protect the national food production.
However, he also stated that transport companies were partly responsible for ferrying in “enemies of the state”.

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly, the legislative arm of the EAC, were in Rwanda this past week to probe the decision by Burundi.

EALA Speaker Fred Kidega said the assembly will look into the decision by Burundi, which he said contravenes the Common Market Protocol and the Customs Union.

“There must be free movement of persons, goods and services in the region; and that is what we are integrating for.

“We are operating a functional Customs Union. Parliament has taken it up and we shall investigate the facts and come up with recommendations for the Council of Ministers. We must not prevent our people from interacting with each other,” Mr Kidega told the media in Kigali.

Relations bad

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi remain tense. About 75,000 Burundian refugees fled to Rwanda after violence broke out in the country in April 2015, after President Nkurunziza announced his intentions to seek a third term.

However, animosity towards Rwanda has increased in recent weeks, with regular protests outside the Rwandan embassy in Bujumbura, targeting Kigali, signalling the tensions between the once cordial neighbours.

In July, a delegation from Burundi that had travelled to Kigali to attend the 27th African Union Summit returned home without taking part in the summit, citing security concerns.

Once close allies, Presidents Kagame and Nkurunziza no longer see eye to eye.

Source: The East African