The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo, has rebutted claims by a Burundian official that bodies discovered on the shores of Lake Rweru were from Rwanda.

The remarks come a few days after Burundi’s Prosecutor-General Valentin Bagorikunda told reporters that he was "certain” the bodies had originated from Rwanda, although he did not provide evidence to back his claims.

"I only heard about what was said by the Prosecutor-General of Burundi from the media, not from Burundi. What he said was not true,” Mushikiwabo told journalists in Kigali yesterday.

"Apart from talking about the lake and its tributaries, he did not provide any evidence showing that these bodies originated from Rwanda or that they are Rwandans.”

Mushikiwabo also faulted reports from Burundi for not stating the exact number of bodies discovered or the identities, adding that a real investigation should replace hearsay.

"All they did was mention how the lake flows, but I never heard about the dead bodies, what the names of the victims are or how they were killed. Even the number keeps changing from one document to another, so it is still an open case. We asked Burundi in August to allow us carry out a joint investigation but we have got no response,” she said.

"This is a situation on the territory of Burundi, but we are interested in finding out whether there was any Rwandan among the bodies, so that we can carry out investigations on how they died. For us this is still an open file.”

Corpses were discovered in July and August, some reportedly bound and wrapped in plastic bags, in Lake Rweru, which borders Burundi and Rwanda.

On August 26, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) also refuted claims that the victims killed and thrown in Lake Rweru located in Burundi’s Muyinga Province, were Rwandan citizens.

Govt to respond to BBC

Meanwhile, Minister Mushikiwabo warned that Rwanda will react in "equal measure” to a documentary produced by British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), which has been widely criticised as revisionist and politically motivated.

"We think the documentary is politically motivated. It is a lineup of who-is-who of Rwanda’s enemies and you can expect Rwanda at the time of its choosing to react with the same weight as the offence made on this country, its leadership and the people of Rwanda,” the government spokesperson said.

"That documentary is not about informing or critiquing, it is about revising the history of Rwanda in many ways, including the Genocide. We are trying to find out how the film was put together and understand why anybody worthy of being a filmmaker or a journalist, let alone a network like the BBC, would want to be the platform for this kind of film.”

On when government intends to officially react to the documentary, Mushikiwabo said she was still doing "homework,” to find out what and who exactly might have motivated BBC.

"We have received many complaints from citizens who want to know what government is doing about it, but it is important to do our homework first. You have also seen from several scholars and experts putting the BBC to task to explain how this film came to be given the platform it was given,” she said.

"This country is where it is not by accident but because of the hard work done by Rwandans and their leader Paul Kagame. He is the choice of Rwandans and not the BBC. He is not answerable to anybody but the people of this country. Those who don’t like it, tough luck.”

Relations with South Africa

Mushikiwabo also spoke about the frosty relations between Rwanda and South Africa, revealing that both countries are working behind the curtains to mend their diplomatic ties.

Rwanda in March expelled South African diplomats in reciprocation after South Africa had done the same.

Since then, it has been difficult for Rwandans to get South African visas, but Mushikiwabo said the situation will change soon.

"Obviously, it is difficult to deal with consular matters when diplomatic personnel have been removed. When countries have tension, there are consequences,” Mushikiwabo said.

Rwanda allows all African citizens to acquire entry visas at the point of entry into the country.

ivan.mugisha@newtimes.co.rw