Army denies that Tanzania is deploying along border

Burundi army spokesman Colonel Longin Minani on Wednesday denied news reports that Tanzanian was deploying troops along the countries’ common border “amid fears of Burundi reprisals” for Hutu rebel attacks allegedly emanating from Tanzania. “That is not true. We are cooperating very well with the Tanzanian government and security authorities. There is no problem between us [the two armies], or the two countries,” he told IRIN. Burundi news agency, Net Press on Tuesday quoted local sources around in the Kigoma region of Tanzania as saying that the army was deploying troops at the crossing points of Malagarazi river, around Kibondo and in Kagera.

It said the concentration of troops was aimed at monitoring the movement of “genocidal terrorists” retreating from Burundi into Tanzania, amid fears that the Burundi army would enter Tanzanian territory in hot pursuit of the Hutu rebels. The reports of a border alert were also played down by a Tanzanian foreign ministry official. “I don’t believe there’s anything alarming to that extent but, even if the army is deploying troops, we are entitled to guard our borders,” he said.