Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Richard Sezibera has told Rwandans that they should still not travel to neighbouring Uganda despite one the main common border posts temporarily reopening on Monday.
“The travel advisory has not changed… that you are strongly advised not to travel,” Mr Sezibera is quoted by the pro-government New Times newspaper.
On Monday, Rwanda announced that after having been closed for more than three months, the main crossing at Gatuna would reopen to allow heavy goods vehicles to cross. This was described as a way to test new infrastructure at the border.
A diplomatic feud between the two countries stopped most cross-border movements, a situation that has had a huge effect on business and daily life for families in both countries.
On its part, Uganda has said that its citizens should still not travel to Rwanda.
Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo also said that Ugandan lorries would not use the Gatuna border crossing:
“We do not want to ask people to divert their trucks when these people are saying it’s only for 10 days.”
-BBC
