"External forces" are to blame for perpetuating the conflict in the eastern DRC, Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye told a British media outlet.
"External forces are responsible for perpetuating this conflict. They do not want peace in the DRC because they want to continue looting its resources, the president stated.
Rwanda is planning to attack Burundi, Ndayishimiye pointed out, citing "credible intelligence" as evidence.
"Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters. But now we don't have any plans to attack Rwanda. We want to resolve that problem by dialogue. […] There is no need for us to go to war. We want dialogue, but we will not sit idle if we are attacked," he noted.
The Burundian top official also urged Rwanda to honor past peace agreements and hand over suspected insurgents for justice.
The Burundian president's statement is "unfortunate, especially since the military and intelligence authorities of the two countries are currently in discussion, and have even agreed on the need for a military and verbal de-escalation," Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said on X in response.