Few days ago, I noted at how the World Food Programme (WFP) bought food from criminal Paul Kagame’s company – AIF (Africa Improvement Foods). And this food was meant for drought stricken areas of Burundi (Bubanza – Cibitoke provinces.)
After Burundian authorities receiving information/knowing that the food was bought from criminal Paul Kagame’s cooperative – company, they have stopped the food from entering Burundi. Now, numerous WFP delivery trucks are stack at different border crossing areas between Rwanda and Burundi, with Burundian authority being adamant to let this trucks in the country.
The animosity between these two authorities has led to a great suspicion of all aspects. After Criminal Paul Kagame trying with different methodologies to remove Peter Nkurunziza, the trust between these two former friends is so low to the extent that the two nations are walking on a blink of an all out war.
Since 2015, we have witnessed a severe cold war between these states. We watched with horror the destruction of criminal Kagame’s backed rebels in Cibitoke and Bubanza. We watched at how an armed attack from Rwanda was annihilated in Kayanza by Nkurunziza’s forces. In 2016, in souther Kivu, we followed a protected war between special forces of these two countries. With Nkurunziza’s forces managing to defeat Kagame’s forces and it’s Burundian allies from infiltrating in Burundi.
For now, both countries are involved in top counter-intelligence wars. Any move by one side is seen suspiciously by the other side. Just last year, Burundi stopped exporting their food products to Rwanda, including the much loved Amstel beer. Public transportation between both countries was stopped, it was deemed that the buses where transporting spies.
On international scene, the diplomatic fight was fought with vigour. Rwanda logistically supported Burundian dissidents to launch an anti – Nkurunziza drive in European – western capitals. Kagame’s staunch allies like Louis Michel cameout to publicly support anti-Nkurunziza groups. On the other hand, the Nkurunziza authority was visiting the eastern bloc of Russia and China to gather support. All UN resolutions on Burundi where all blocked by Russian Veto, with China abstaining in all the votes related to Burundi.
On regional level, president Museveni who was chosen by EAC head of states to be the facilitator on Burundi, has chosen to duck from his responsibilities opting to nominate the former Tanzanian president – Benjamin Mkapa to face the heat and insanity of this dirty cold war between Rwanda and Burundi. President Museveni has smartly tried to remain above this cold war between Burundi and Rwanda. And this has led to a prolonged fractious relationship between Kigali and Kampala; as Kigali expected Museveni to be on their side in the drive of regime change in Burundi.
Months to come will be interesting, Burundian dissidents with total logical support from Rwanda are now re-organising militarily through extensive recruitment, training and retraining in different military training wings in Rwanda especially in Gako and Nasho. This time around, Paul Kagame and his Burundian allies will try to avoid the mistakes of 2015 – 2016. In the past, they underestimated president Nkurunziza to catastrophic effect on their side. Now, Kigali will unveil a different war model.
In Burundi, President Nkurunziza is not sleeping, he is also re-training and re-organising the Burundian army. Military regions being turned into divisions, with Chinese military instructors being brought to train the forces on counter insurgency warfare. Burundi has also been upgrading on military arsenals with deliveries from South Africa, China and Russia. This was done in order to match Rwanda’s fire capabilities.
All scenes of an all out war are set, it’s only the trigger missing. In Kagame’s convention wisdom, war is started after cutting the head of the adversary army. Over the years, criminal Paul Kagame has orchestrated assassinations of 4 different heads of state. We have to admit, he is the master in the art of assassination.
Gakwerere Rpf