By Frank Kamuntu
The
Government of Rwanda has formally notified Uganda and Kenya of the sudden
decision by Burundi to block cargo trucks entering their country through
Rwanda.
All
Burundi-bound trucks transporting cargo from the Kenyan port of Mombasa,
transit through Uganda and Rwanda. However, authorities in Gitega recently
decided to block trucks using the Northern Corridor, causing gridlocks at
points of entry. (Tramadol
However, the
move has since been strongly criticised by freight transporters and the
business community in general, especially because it goes against last week’s
decision by a ministerial meeting from East African Community member states.
The meeting took
place in the context of the Coronavirus outbreak in EAC member states whereby
ministers met virtually on March 25, 2020, and directed all partner states to
facilitate continued free movement of goods even as they take measures to limit
the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Rwanda’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has since sent Notes
Verbales to Kampala and Nairobi, informing them that Kigali has been left with
no choice but to stop trucks headed for Burundi from the two East African
neighbours.
“The
Government of the Republic of Burundi is no longer allowing cargo trucks
transiting through Rwanda to enter Burundi’s territory despite the
above-mentioned decision by Ministers of the East African Community,” it
wrote in part.
“Since Burundi
has effectively closed all its borders to cargo transiting through Rwanda, the
Government of Rwanda will no longer allow entry on its territory to cargo
trucks destined to Burundi.”
Burundi’s
decision has since seen many heavy trucks that had been cleared by Rwanda and
Burundi immigration and customs officials (under the One Stop Border Post
arrangement) stuck in the no-man’s land between Rwanda and Burundi since last
week.
It has also been
discovered that efforts by truck drivers and merchandise owners to negotiate
with Burundian authorities to allow in the goods have remained futile.
At Nemba One
Stop Border Post in Bugesera District, of the three freight trucks which failed
to get clearance to enter Burundi since March 28, two (both with Ugandan registration
number plates) were offloaded and then goods loaded onto Burundian trucks while
the third, with a Kenyan registration number, was yet to be cleared by Tuesday,
March 31. However, at Ruhwa border post in Rusizi, two cargo trucks had been
denied entry since Friday.
At
Akanyaru-Haut, two trucks were stranded at the Rwandan side of the border, as
cargo owners tried to negotiate with Burundian authorities for entry.
As a result
of this blockade, at least eight trucks destined for Burundi have been parked
at the no-man’s land at Mirama-Hills border post between Rwanda and Uganda
since March 29.
