The government of Rwanda has officially announved the reopening of all its land borders with an agenda of assessing the existing Covid-19 measures, among other issues.
Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo had been open while the former’s frontier with the eastern Tanzania had been closed, as per the Covid-19 East African protocols.
“Land borders shall reopen starting Monday March 7th but people must be subject to random Covid-19 testing by the Ministry of Health upon entry,” read the meeting communique issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
On the other hand, Rwanda’s Southern border with Burundi had been closed for almost seven years, after the sister nations’ relations became icy in 2015.
At that time, the government of Rwanda expressed concerns about increasing reports of unrest and violence targeting unarmed Rwandan civilians residing in Burundi, hence closing the border to avoid more effects.
However, efforts to mend ties have been underway, and most recently was the visit of Burundian justice minister in Rwanda.
Another border that will be reopened will be the Gatuna border in Gicumbi district between Rwanda and Uganda.
The border post has been dormant for almost three years after Kigali issued a travel advisory in protest against the harassment, abduction, illegal detention and torture of Rwandan nationals in Uganda since 2018.
