According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Albert Shingiro, the presumed putschists of 2015 “on the loose” in Rwanda would benefit from coming to Burundi because they could benefit from a presidential pardon. “Brought before the Burundian courts, they will be able to serve their sentences, and you never know that after a few years,
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Albert Shingiro, the presumed putschists of 2015 “on the loose” in Rwanda would benefit from coming to Burundi because they could benefit from a presidential pardon.
“Brought before the Burundian courts, they will be able to serve their sentences, and you never know that after a few years, they will not be able to benefit from certain decisions such as the presidential pardon”, advised the alleged putschists, Albert Shingiro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. It was in his responses to journalists, this July 22, 2022, during his presentation of the achievements of his ministry for the 2021-2022 budget year.
And to let it be known that the point of departure for the process of normalization of relations of friendship and cooperation with the current northern neighbor will be the handing over by the Rwandan side of these alleged Burundian putschists of 2015. “This is the only point that remains unresolved. All other questions have been cleared”reveals the head of Burundian diplomacy.
Mr. Shingiro says he is optimistic that the Rwandan side will hand over the suspected Burundian putschists. “No country can sacrifice cooperation with another country, let alone a neighboring country, for the benefit of a group of criminals without a political future”he explains.
When asked whether Burundi’s demand would not be contrary to international humanitarian law which protects refugees, the former Burundian ambassador to the United Nations is clear: “There is no international humanitarian law that manages the putschists. Who manages the criminals? For him, they are not ordinary refugees. They are putschists who fled after committing crimes in Burundi. He believes that their case is different from the 1951 refugee convention. “There is no link between the refugees and this group of criminals, putschists. I would advise them to come to justice instead of staying on the run. »
With Burundi’s new foreign policy which, according to him, emphasizes the promotion of good neighborly relations with all the countries of the world, Albert Shingiro indicates that the process of normalizing relations with Rwanda is progressing normally and has reached a level very satisfaying.