Burundi expels Rwandan diplomat

Burundi has expelled a Rwandan diplomat, whom it accuses of destabilising the country, a Burundian official has told the BBC. Desire Nyaruhirira had been a top adviser at the Rwandan embassy in Burundi for many years. The expulsion comes amid worsening relations between the east African neighbours. Last week, Burundi accused Rwanda of training rebels […]

Burundi has expelled a Rwandan diplomat, whom it accuses of destabilising the country, a Burundian official has told the BBC.
Desire Nyaruhirira had been a top adviser at the Rwandan embassy in Burundi for many years.
The expulsion comes amid worsening relations between the east African neighbours.
Last week, Burundi accused Rwanda of training rebels seeking to destabilise the country, allegations it denies.
The Burundian official, who told the BBC Great Lakes service why Mr Nyaruhirira had been expelled, requested not to be named.
Rwanda has not commented on the expulsion.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza decided in April to run for a controversial third term in office, a decision Rwandan president Paul Kagame criticised.
They deteriorated further after Burundi accused Rwanda of hosting failed coup leader Gen Godefroid Niyombare, who tried to seize power in May.
Pierre Nkurunziza and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame were once on good terms, even playing football together when they visited each other’s countries.