Kigali – Burundian authorities on Wednesday paraded a man identified as Cpl. Rucyahintare Cyprien, who claimed to be a Rwandan military spy, police report said.
However, his parents and close relatives have said the man fled to Burundi because he was facing robbery charges back home.
Esdras Nsabimana, the father of Cyprien, accused his son of telling lies, saying that the truth was that his son was involved in many robbery activities before he decided to escape to neighbouring Burundi.
A senior administrative leader in Bugesera, a district in southeastern Rwanda, said the alleged Rwandan spy had been arrested on several occasions for drug-related and robbery offences.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
According to Rwanda’s Defence and Military spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita, the Rwandan army does not have a soldier called Rucyahintare Cyprien on its list.
According to the Burundian police spokesman, Pierre Nkurikiye, Cyprien was arrested on Friday in Rushenyi on the Rwandan border.
However, exiled members of Burundian opposition members are currently seeking asylum in neighbouring Rwanda.
Media reports in Kigali claim that a group of Rwandans have been arrested and detained recently by Burundian security agents for “spying”.
Analysts in Kigali say that by arresting Rwandan nationals, Burundian authorities are looking for scapegoats of the current political crisis.
They added that the arrest increased from the time when some 71,000 Burundians had fled to Rwanda after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his third term project in violation of the country’s constitution. (PANA/NAN)