"The closure of borders hinders economic growth, social cohesion, and cultural exchange," declared the Bishops of Rwanda and Burundi at the conclusion of the first Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Association of Ordinary Conferences of Rwanda and Burundi (ACOREB), which took place from March 30 to April 1 at the Saint Joseph Center in Kibungo, Rwanda.
The government in Bujumbura has closed the land border with Rwanda, accusing the country of supporting Burundian rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government in Kigali denies these accusations.
Burundi also believes that the perpetrators of the failed 2015 coup are in Rwanda (see Fides 15/5/2015) and intends to bring them to justice. However, Rwanda says that under international law, it is unable to extradite individuals seeking political asylum.
"We ask our leaders to act wisely and mercifully to restore normalcy and promote unity between our nations," the bishops of the two countries said in the statement presented at a press conference.
The crisis between Rwanda and Burundi is linked to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where large parts of the provinces of North and South Kivu have fallen under the control of the Rwandan-backed M23 guerrilla movement. Burundi, which had stationed its own military units in the Congolese province of South Kivu, withdrew them shortly before the M23 and Rwandan troops captured the provincial capital, Bukavu.
The government in Bujumbura now fears a possible incursion by the M23 and Rwandans into its territory and an expansion of the Congolese conflict to the entire Great Lakes region. For this reason, the bishops of Rwanda and Burundi also join the message of the Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences (ACEAC), which calls for negotiations to resolve the conflicts peacefully.
"From February 24 to 26, 2025, the Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences (ACEAC) held a meeting in Dar es Salaam to seek solutions for peace in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo," recall the bishops of Burundi and Rwanda. "The members of ACOREB welcome and support the message of ACEAC, which calls on all parties involved in this deadly war to return to the negotiating table to resolve their conflicts through peaceful means and sincere and inclusive dialogue."
"The Episcopal Conference of Burundi (CECAB) and the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (CEPR) have translated this message into the local language and disseminated it in all parishes to raise awareness among the faithful, to pray for peace in our sub-region, and to be witnesses of fraternity," they emphasize.
"In a world where many people sow discord and build walls of division for their own selfish interests and greedy ambitions, the bishops urge the Catholic faithful to invest in building bridges and to bear witness to communion, universal fraternity, and the truth." (L.M.) Agenzia Fides
