Burundi Claims of Rwanda Spy Don't Hold Up
17 March 2016 at 10:37am
By Issaka Ikporr
Bujumbura - Burundi paraded in front of the media a 22 year old man presented as a Rwandan spy, who allegedly came to Burundi to prepare attacks against Burundi, officials say.
Pierre Nkurikiye, Burundi police spokesperson, told the press that this alleged Rwandan spy was an army officer from Gabiro camp, who helped Burundi's failed coup plotters in may 2015 to escape from Burundi.
During this parade however, the supposed Rwandan military officer was unable to name his commander and direct chief in his hierarchy.
“I am here because I want to reveal what my country Rwanda is planning. The country is planning to attack Burundi and is training rebels,” Cyprien Rushyahintare told the press, minutes after his arrest.
During these “revelations,” Rushyahintare also said that Burundian rebels in Rwanda have been trained by retired South Korean military trainers.
On Monday the Burundian Government paraded the so called soldier from Rwanda in front of Ugandan, Tanzanian and Kenyan diplomats in Burundi, to show the East African Community that one of its member states is hosting a rebellion against Burundi.
The Rwandan army rejected these allegations, saying that Burundian officials lack credibility”.
General Joseph Nzabamwita, Rwandan Army spokesperson, told the press that the arrested man in Burundi was not even able to give his army number as the given number (284049) was not used in the Rwandan army.
The real identity of the arrested man emerged after I visit to his home in the Bugesera region in southern Rwanda, close to the border with Burundi.
His father, Esdras Nsabimana, said his son Cyprien was simply a thief.
“He disappeared after he had stolen 60kg of beans. Before that he was judged for having stolen goats and hens. He has never been an army officer,” Esdras Nsabimana said in an interview.
He said that his son is also mentally unbalanced and abuses alcohol.
“This man Cyprien is mentally unbalanced. I can tell you that we used to handcuff him because of his quarrels here. He was never a stable man and has never put an army uniform. He is someone who left school early, and was a problem for the family,” Cyprien's brother said.
The South Korean Charge d’Affairs in Rwanda Dong Ku Lee rejected the allegations that South Korea is training Burundian rebels in Rwanda.
Independent Foreign Services
By Issaka Ikporr
Bujumbura - Burundi paraded in front of the media a 22 year old man presented as a Rwandan spy, who allegedly came to Burundi to prepare attacks against Burundi, officials say.
Pierre Nkurikiye, Burundi police spokesperson, told the press that this alleged Rwandan spy was an army officer from Gabiro camp, who helped Burundi's failed coup plotters in may 2015 to escape from Burundi.
During this parade however, the supposed Rwandan military officer was unable to name his commander and direct chief in his hierarchy.
“I am here because I want to reveal what my country Rwanda is planning. The country is planning to attack Burundi and is training rebels,” Cyprien Rushyahintare told the press, minutes after his arrest.
During these “revelations,” Rushyahintare also said that Burundian rebels in Rwanda have been trained by retired South Korean military trainers.
On Monday the Burundian Government paraded the so called soldier from Rwanda in front of Ugandan, Tanzanian and Kenyan diplomats in Burundi, to show the East African Community that one of its member states is hosting a rebellion against Burundi.
The Rwandan army rejected these allegations, saying that Burundian officials lack credibility”.
General Joseph Nzabamwita, Rwandan Army spokesperson, told the press that the arrested man in Burundi was not even able to give his army number as the given number (284049) was not used in the Rwandan army.
The real identity of the arrested man emerged after I visit to his home in the Bugesera region in southern Rwanda, close to the border with Burundi.
His father, Esdras Nsabimana, said his son Cyprien was simply a thief.
“He disappeared after he had stolen 60kg of beans. Before that he was judged for having stolen goats and hens. He has never been an army officer,” Esdras Nsabimana said in an interview.
He said that his son is also mentally unbalanced and abuses alcohol.
“This man Cyprien is mentally unbalanced. I can tell you that we used to handcuff him because of his quarrels here. He was never a stable man and has never put an army uniform. He is someone who left school early, and was a problem for the family,” Cyprien's brother said.
The South Korean Charge d’Affairs in Rwanda Dong Ku Lee rejected the allegations that South Korea is training Burundian rebels in Rwanda.
Independent Foreign Services
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