Vice-President intimates troop presence in DRC

First Vice-President Frederic Bamvuginyumvira has described relations between his country and the Democratic Republic of Congo as good. In an interview with the BBC Kirundi service during a visit to London this week, he noted that President Laurent-Desire Kabila had assisted Burundi when it was under economic embargo. "Therefore Burundi cannot say it supports those fighting him," he said. "We make sure that relations between Burundi and Congo are good." He noted Burundi's ambassador to DRC had returned home because of the war, but that he would go back once the issue was resolved. He intimated that Burundi may have troops in DRC. "When war starts in a neighbouring country, you go beyond your front door," he told the interviewer. "So we decided to send our soldiers as far as possible, so that we do not get surprise attacks."