Kirundo : the Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD visited the Imbonerakure of districts bordering Rwanda to call on them to be more vigilant

Révérien Ndikuriyo paid a visit on Monday, September 30, to the districts of Bugabira and Busoni, bordering neighboring Rwanda. He called on them to be more vigilant. Officials of the ruling party fear probable infiltrations by the Rwandan secret services and attacks from this enemy country.
INFO SOS Médias Burundi
According to sources within the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, the visit of the secretary general of the ruling party was announced on Sunday evening. They speak of a visit that did not arouse curiosity among the inhabitants.
« Révérien Ndikuriyo’s convoy normally consists of several vehicles. But when he came to Kirundo, there were less than five cars. It was very surprising, » says a CNDD-FDD activist.
Closed-door meetings between Hutu activists only
The meetings of this September 30, 2024 in the districts of Bugabira and Busoni took place behind closed doors, say participants. The secretary general of the CNDD-FDD was accompanied in these meetings by Jean Baptiste Nzigamasabo nicknamed Gihahe, a former officer of the former Hutu rebellion and executive of the ruling party known for his hatred of opponents. He has often been cited in acts of assassination, torture and arbitrary arrests of activists of opposition parties and even of his party who denounce his abuses. Imbonerakure of the two districts speak of « exclusive » meetings.
« Tutsi activists, even the most zealous, were not invited to these meetings, » reassures a disappointed member of the CNDD-FDD youth league.
Other participants in these meetings mention a fact : police officers in charge of the security of the secretary general of the CNDD-FDD, did not collaborate with their colleagues from Kirundo and Ngozi (neighboring province).
« Perhaps they had received other injunctions not to tolerate any unexpected presence at these meetings, » believes a CNDD-FDD official in Kirundo.
Imbonerakure called upon to strengthen surveillance at the border with Rwanda
According to witnesses, Révérien Ndikuriyo mobilized the Imbonerakure and gave them new orders to « better secure the border in collaboration with the military and the police ».
Burundian authorities closed land borders with Rwanda in January 2024, accusing it of maintaining terrorist groups that killed nearly 30 people between December 2023 and February 2024 in the provinces of Bujumbura and Bubanza, bordering the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).
According to our sources, CNDD-FDD officials criticized some Imbonerakure for letting Burundians cross the lakes that separate Burundi and Rwanda to reach the Rwandan territory and for tolerating Rwandans who come to Burundi, in exchange for paying bribes.
Fear of being infiltrated and attacked
According to witnesses, Révérien Ndikuriyo and his party officials are convinced that Rwandan intelligence agents have invited themselves to Burundi.
« (Rwandan) secret service agents came to Burundi via Lakes Cohoha and Rweru. You must be careful and watch over your safety and that of our country, » insisted leaders of the Bugabira and Busoni meetings.
Révérien Ndikuriyo called on the Imbonerakure to « be more vigilant and track down recalcitrants ». He mentioned the appearance of the deadly Marburg virus in Rwanda (on September 27, 2024) which has already caused at least 10 deaths. « One more reason to control clandestine movements to and from Rwanda ».
A probable attack by assailants from Rwanda
In these meetings, Révérien Ndikuriyo would not have hesitated at least, according to our sources, to say that Rwanda « still remains Burundi’s number one enemy. Possible attacks could fall on Burundi from the neighboring country either from Red-Tabara* or other rebel groups ».
« That is why we came to mobilize you », insisted the leader of the former Hutu rebellion.
Kirundo: The Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD visited the Imbonerakure of the communes bordering Rwanda to call on them to be more vigilant
Révérien Ndikuriyo visited the communes of Bugabira and Busoni, bordering neighboring Rwanda, on Monday, September 30. He called on them to be more vigilant. The executives of the ruling party fear probable infiltrations by the Rwandan secret services and attacks from this enemy country.
INFO SOS Médias Burundi
According to sources within the CNDD-FDD, the presidential party, the visit of the Secretary General of the ruling party was announced on Sunday evening. They speak of a raid that did not arouse curiosity among the inhabitants.
« Révirien Ndikuriyo’s convoy normally consists of several vehicles. But when he came to Kirundo, there were less than five cars. It was very surprising, » said a CNDD-FDD activist.
Closed-door meetings between Hutu activists only
The meetings of September 30, 2024 in the communes of Bugabira and Busoni took place behind closed doors, say participants. The secretary general of the CNDD-FDD was accompanied in these meetings by Jean Baptiste Nzigamasabo nicknamed Gihahe, a former officer of the former Hutu rebellion and executive of the presidential party known for his hatred of opponents. He has often been cited in acts of assassination, torture and arbitrary arrests of activists of opposition parties and even of his party who denounce his abuses. Imbonerakure from the two communes speak of « exclusive » meetings.
« The Tutsi activists, even the most zealous, were not invited to these meetings, » reassures a member of the CNDD-FDD youth league, disappointed.
Other participants in these meetings mention a fact: the police officers in charge of the security of the secretary general of the CNDD-FDD, did not collaborate with their colleagues from Kirundo and Ngozi (neighboring province).
« Maybe they had received other injunctions not to tolerate any unexpected presence at these meetings », believes a CNDD-FDD official in Kirundo.
The Imbonerakure called to reinforce surveillance at the border with Rwanda
According to witnesses, Révérien Ndikuriyo mobilized the Imbonerakure and gave them new orders to « better secure the border in collaboration with the military and the police ».

Young girls mobilized for a paramilitary parade on the sidelines of the celebration of the 8th edition of the day dedicated to the Imbonerakure, August 31, 2024 in Bujumbura (SOS Médias Burundi)
Burundian authorities closed the land borders with Rwanda in January 2024, accusing it of maintaining terrorist groups that killed nearly 30 people between December 2023 and February 2024 in the provinces of Bujumbura and Bubanza, bordering the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).
According to our sources, CNDD-FDD officials criticized some Imbonerakure for allowing Burundians to cross the lakes that separate Burundi and Rwanda to reach Rwandan territory and for tolerating Rwandans who come to Burundi, in exchange for paying bribes.
Fear of being infiltrated and attacked
According to witnesses, Révérien Ndikuriyo and his party officials are convinced that Rwandan intelligence agents have invited themselves to Burundi.
« (Rwandan) secret service agents came to Burundi via Lakes Cohoha and Rweru. You must be careful and watch over your safety and that of our country, » insisted the facilitators of the Bugabira and Busoni meetings.
Révérien Ndikuriyo called on the Imbonerakure to « be more vigilant and track down the recalcitrants ». In passing, he mentioned the appearance of the deadly Marburg virus in Rwanda (on September 27, 2024) which has already caused at least 10 deaths. « One more reason to control clandestine movements to and from Rwanda ».
A probable attack by the assailants from Rwanda
In these meetings, Révérien Ndikuriyo would not have hesitated at least, according to our sources, to say that Rwanda « still remains the number one enemy of Burundi. Possible attacks could fall on Burundi from the neighboring country either from Red-Tabara* or other rebel groups ».
« That is why we came to mobilize you », insisted the leader of the former Hutu rebellion.
Cited in several alleged daily abuses against opponents in particular, the Imbonerakure who remain considered by the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi as a militia, participate alongside the army and the police in securing borders and in night patrols.
In August 2023, during the 7th edition of the day dedicated to members of the CNDD-FDD youth league held in Makamba province (southern Burundi), Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye had asked the Imbonerakure to « increase night patrols ».
A CNDD-FDD spokesperson was not available to respond to these allegations.
Red-Tabara* : an armed group originally from Burundi based in South Kivu, eastern DRC, found on the list of terrorist groups of the Burundian government.
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Révérien Ndikuriyo, Secretary General of the CNDD-FDD on the sidelines of the celebration of the 8th edition of the day dedicated to the Imbonerakure in Bujumbura, the commercial capital of Burundi, on August 31, 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)