Rwanda, Burundi Senate heads mull ways to improve both countries’ relations

The Senate presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and their respective delegations on June 20 met and discussed how parliamentary diplomacy can improve relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The discussions between Rwanda’s Senate President François-Xavier Kalinda and his Burundian counterpart Emmanuel Sinzohagera were held in Kigali.

Kalinda was accompanied by his two deputies – Soline Nyihabimana, the Vice President in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, and Alvera Mukabaramba, the Vice President in charge of Administration and Finance.

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According to the Parliament of Rwanda, they discussed collaborative efforts through parliamentary diplomacy.

In another post on X, the Senate of Burundi stated that their discussions focused on the role of the two institutions in strengthening relations between Burundi and Rwanda.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been sour, with Burundi alleging that Rwanda plots to attack it, and the latter accusing the former of collaborating with FDLR – a militia group founded by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – to destabilise its security.