Burundian President contradicts Foreign Minister on Qatar’s mediation role

Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has publicly contradicted his Minister of Foreign Affairs after the two issued opposing statements on Qatar’s role in peace talks aimed at stabilizing the Great Lakes region. The disagreement became a major topic on social media over the weekend after Foreign Affairs Minister Édouard Bizimana posted comments on X accusing Rwanda of lobbying the President of the United States to avoid action while continuing to seize territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a post later deleted, Bizimana alleged that Qatar was playing a negative rol

Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has publicly contradicted his Minister of Foreign Affairs after the two issued opposing statements on Qatar’s role in peace talks aimed at stabilizing the Great Lakes region. The disagreement became a major topic on social media over the weekend after Foreign Affairs Minister Édouard Bizimana posted comments on X accusing Rwanda of lobbying the President of the United States to avoid action while continuing to seize territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a post later deleted, Bizimana alleged that Qatar was playing a negative role by using its financial influence to prevent the United States from taking action. Writing late on Saturday, January 3, he claimed that Rwanda had “tested POTUS (U.S. President Donald Trump) and there was no action,” and was now “capturing more territories in the eastern part of DRC in violation of the Washington agreement.” He further singled out Qatar, stating that it was “using its influence and cash to dissuade the U.S. from taking action.” The remarks triggered strong reactions online, with many critics pointing out that Qatar is currently the main mediator in peace talks between the government in Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 coalition. Others noted that the Emir of Qatar played a key role in facilitating dialogue between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi to reduce tensions between their countries. President Ndayishimiye later responded on X, distancing the Burundian government from his minister’s comments and describing them as a misunderstanding. “Burundi has always appreciated the long-lasting good bilateral relations with Qatar, as well as Qatar’s crucial role in mediation efforts in the DRC,” the president wrote. “It is important to clarify any misunderstanding and incorrect statements regarding Qatar’s contribution to development and peacebuilding.” Qatar also responded through its Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, who thanked President Ndayishimiye for the clarification and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to peace and mediation. “The State of Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to peacebuilding, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and will continue to engage constructively with all partners in support of stability and lasting peace,” he said.