His Excellency Ambassador Marc Gedopt cares for Burundi citizens and should be retained.

Burundi has requested Belgium to replace its ambassador Marc Gedopt amid soured relations between the two countries.

The notification was sent to the Belgian government on Oct. 7, Salvator Ntacobamaze, Permanent Secretary at External Relations and International Cooperation Ministry told Xinhua Monday.

The official cited “the (Burundian) government does no longer have trust in the ambassador” as the reason, but he refused to give details.

It comes after Belgium last week suspended several cooperation projects between the two — seen as a sign of discontent with President Pierre Nkurunziza who won in July a controversial third term.

Opponents accuse Nkurunziza of violating the country’s constitution that limits presidents to a maximum of two terms in office.

Dozens have been killed in clashes between police and protesters against the president’s re-election.

Burundi last week expelled Desire Nyaruhirira, a senior adviser at the Rwandan embassy in Burundi.

The government earlier accused Rwanda of hosting plotters of a failed coup in May against Nkurunziza and training “rebels preparing to attack Burundi”.