INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DISPUTES: SOCIAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLOSING BORDER BETWEEN RWANDA AND BURUNDI (2020-2024)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the social economic impacts of closing border between Rwanda and Burundi (2020-2024). The specific objectives of the study were to investigate how the Burundi-Rwanda border closure has affected trade between Rwanda and Burundi, to assess the effects of this border closure on the Burundians and Rwandans freedoms (free movement of persons/labor, goods, services, and capital) and to examine the social economic impacts of closing border between Rwanda and Burundi. The target population of this study was composed by 37,976 people of Rweru sector with sample size of 100. The Field data were collected using questionnaires and interview. For the first specific objective, researcher found out that 100% of all respondents agree and confirm that the effects of Burundi-Rwanda border closure on trade between Rwanda and Burundi are that Burundians cannot trade with Rwandans, increase in illegal smuggling of goods, disturbed the two countries‘ economies, violation of African continental free trade agreement among AU, Countless local traders and their businesses, low flow of foreign direct investment, proliferation of non-trade barriers, trade imbalances and unequal sharing of benefits, violates the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community, Fear among the people living in border areas and reduces trade, Shutting out all forms of trade and movement of people along the borders it shares with Rwanda and Burundi. For the second specific objective, researcher found out that 100% of respondents agree and confirm that the effects of Rwanda-Burundi border closure on the Burundians and Rwandans freedoms are that Rwandans cannot travel to Burundi without risking their lives, Restrict free movement of people between the two countries, Violates the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community, Proliferation of non-trade barriers, Hurt countless local traders and their businesses, Increase in illegal smuggling of goods, Fear among the people living in border areas and reduces trade and Shutting out all forms of trade and movement of people along the borders it shares with Rwanda and Burundi. For the third specific objective, researcher found out that 100% of all respondents agree and confirm that the social economic impacts of closing border between Rwanda and Burundi are; increase in inflation Rate, loss of job and employment among the border communities, increase in Prices of Staple Foods, increasing tensions, especially when all diplomatic relations are cut off, Human suffering, loss of lives, and affected Rwandans and Burundian psychologically, interrupted the day-to-day activities of their businesses, damage to the both countries‘ economy and well-being, economic losses at the National and at the Individual Level, closed businesses among Rwandan and Burundians, economic hardship for people in this border community and loss of lives, and affected Rwandans and Burundian psychologically