Goods worth 13.39 million US dollars entered Burundi from Rwanda during the second quarter of 2026, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reported that goods worth 13.39 million US dollars entered Burundi from Rwanda during the second quarter of 2026. This trade activity persisted despite the border between Rwanda and Burundi remaining closed since January 2024. The border between Rwanda and Burundi has been closed since January 2024. The NISR report indicates that exports continued to flow across the frontier during the specified three-month period. The official closure of the border has been in effect for more than two years, yet the NISR figures confirm that commercial goods reached the Burundian market throughout the second quarter of the current year.
Context of Border Tensions
Burundi closed the border due to allegations that Rwanda provided shelter to the Red-Tabara rebel group and those involved in the 2015 coup attempt. The frontier between Rwanda and Burundi was previously closed in 2015 following an attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza. The border between Rwanda and Burundi was previously closed in 2015 following an attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza. Officials reopened the border in October 2022 after seven years of closure, following efforts to improve relations under President Evariste Ndayishimiye. The border was reopened in October 2022 after seven years of closure, following efforts to improve relations under President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Rwanda Export Market Performance
Burundi ranked seventh among the top destinations for Rwandan exports during the second quarter of 2026. In the second quarter of 2026, Burundi ranked seventh among the top destinations for Rwandan exports. Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) indicates that while trade to Burundi continued, other global markets accounted for significantly higher volumes of Rwandan goods.
China served as the primary destination for Rwandan exports during this three-month period, receiving shipments valued at 142.38 million US dollars. Rwanda's top export destination in the second quarter of 2026 was China, with a value of 142.38 million US dollars. The United Arab Emirates followed as the second-largest market, with trade reaching 107.96 million US dollars. The United Arab Emirates was the second-largest destination for Rwandan exports at 107.96 million US dollars. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) occupied the third position, importing 89.51 million US dollars worth of goods from Rwanda. The Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) was the third-largest destination for Rwandan exports at 89.51 million US dollars. These figures reflect the distribution of Rwandan export commodities across major international trade partners during the second quarter of 2026. This data shows the ongoing reliance of the Rwandan export sector on diverse international markets, even as specific regional border closures impact the flow of goods between neighboring nations. The statistics provided by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) illustrate the scale of these economic activities during the three-month window.