Rwanda dismisses claims that it assisted Burundians to unseat Nkurunziza

Rwanda on Friday refuted findings made by U.N. independent experts that the country had provided training, financing and logistical support to Burundians plotting to unseat Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza.

A confidential report expected to be discussed by the Security Council sanctions committee, reportedly claimed that 18 Burundian combatants in eastern Congo said they had been recruited in a refugee camp in Rwanda in mid-2015 and trained by instructors, who included Rwandan military personnel.

According to reports, the experts said “similar outside support continued through early 2016.”

“This took the form of training, financing and logistical support for Burundian combatants crossing from Rwanda to DRC,” the group of experts wrote in the report.

The experts further added that, “the group met with Rwandan nationals, as well, who said they had been involved in the training of Burundian combatants or had been sent to the DRC to help support the Burundian opposition.

Rwanda however said Burundi was trying to deflect attention from its own problems.

President Nkurunziza survived a coup attempt in May last year led by renegade General Godefroid Niyombare, who opposed his bid for a third term in office.

Reuters