Rwanda denies blame for Burundi grenade attacks that injured dozens

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Rwanda has denied any involvement after neighboring Burundi alleged it was behind Friday’s grenade attacks that injured dozens in the commercial capital Bujumbura.

At least 38 people were injured when a grenade exploded at a bus stop in Bujumbura at 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Friday, local authorities said.

A second attack later took place near a petrol station in the northern Ngagara district, but only left the assailant wounded.

Burundi’s Interior Ministry placed the blame on its neighbor Rwanda on Saturday when spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye claimed that Kigali was behind the perpetrators, Red-Tabara, a rebel group based out of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“These terrorists were recruited, trained, and even equipped with weapons in Rwanda and by Rwanda,” Nkurikiye told reporters at the National Intelligence Service in Bujumbura.

In its response, Kigali dismissed the claims and called on Burundi “to solve its own internal problems and not associate Rwanda with such despicable matters.”

“There is something clearly wrong going on with Burundi for its government to accuse Rwanda for recent grenade explosions in Bujumbura, a situation we have absolutely no connection with, and have no reason to be involved in. Burundi has a problem with Rwanda, but we have no problem with Burundi,” a Rwandan spokesperson said in a statement.

Relations between the two neighboring East African countries have been tense recently.

Earlier this year, Burundi severed ties and closed its border with Rwanda after the country’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye accused Kigali of backing the Red-Tabara rebel group, a charge Rwanda denies.

The rebel group waged a war against Burundi's government in 2015.

Burundi government spokesperson Nkurikiye said six suspects have been arrested in connection with four attacks since April.