26 December 2007
Bujumbura — The Rwandan ambassador to Burundi, Janvier Kanyamashure, met the First Vice-President of the Republic, Dr Yves Sahinguvu, to congratulate him for his appointment.
During their meeting, the pair discussed the issue concerning the border between Rwanda and Burundi. The Rwandan Ambassador says that the border between Rwanda and Burundi is a legacy of the colonizers.
"There are many issues that the colonizers left unsolved; those are the ones we have to fix together. What is important is that all sides agree on what was left unsolved and the means to be used to fix it."
After they failed to reach an agreement on the border issue itself, Burundi and Rwanda recently agreed that they will request the assistance of the Kingdom of Belgium in resolving the issue of the border between their two countries.
Tension on the border between Burundi and Rwanda arose in January 2006 at Sabanerwa in the province of Ngozi due to a land dispute between inhabitants of the two countries.
Most of the lands that are disputed are located along Kanyaru river which constitutes the natural border between Burundi and Rwanda. This river has, however, changed its course since it was established as the border. The river Kagera, which is called Nyaborongo in Rwanda, changed its course as well, resulting in a land dispute at Muyinga that elders of the two sides have been unable to settle.
There are many areas where the border between Burundi and Rwanda is not clearly defined. The tension on the border gathered momentum in 2006 when Burundi and the South of Rwanda were facing a drought. The disputed valleys are fertile and suitable for rice farming.
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