The Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi have called upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take action against Rwanda for recruiting and training refugees to oust Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza.
The US claimed that Rwanda was training the refugees with the aim of overthrowing Nkurunziza. Rwanda has however repeatedly denied the claims.
Burundi’s UN Ambassador Albert Shingiro, in a letter dated Friday, called for an urgent council meeting to “take appropriate action to ensure that the Rwandan government does not engage in any act designed to destabilize Burundi.”
Kinshasa asked the 15-member council to “condemn without delay” Rwanda’s actions, and press Kigali to stop the recruitment and other operations immediately, Ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita said in a letter last Thursday.
Burundi descended into chaos last year in April after President Nkurunziza declared his bid for a third controversial term in office, which he went on to win in the disputed elections held in July.
More than 400 people have been killed in the clashes, with 230,000 others fleeing to neighbouring countries.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to travel to Burundi on Monday to push for political talks and a stronger international presence to pull the country back from the brink, diplomats said.
