United States on Wednesday accused Rwanda of seeking to "destabilize" Burundi, by recruiting Burundian refugees to enlist in armed opposition groups against the government of its neighbor.
AFP
"Some reports from our colleagues in the field make us think that the Rwandan government is involved in destabilizing activities in Burundi," said Under Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate.
Thomas Perriello, especially the US government for the African Great Lakes region emissary, said before the same commission that has "credible information on the recruitment of Burundian refugees in shelters in Rwanda, to participate in armed attacks by the opposition Burundi army against the government "in the country.
It is the first time the United States directly questions the role the Rwandan authorities on the crisis in its neighbor.
The United States has been a traditional ally of Rwanda, although the relationship has deteriorated in recent years due to the role that President Paul Kagame has had on the crisis in the region and his decision to seek reelection for a third consecutive term.
Burundi, one of the ten poorest countries in the world is mired since April in a spiral of violence that has raised fears the possibility that genocide breaks out.
Since the crisis began in Burundi they have killed more than 400 people and 230,000 have fled the country.
In January the UN denounced the existence of ethnic massacres, mass graves with hundreds of bodies and gang rape committed by security forces loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza Burundi.