Friendship Games postponed over political and security concerns in Rwanda

The 2015 Friendship Games have been postponed until November due to political tension in Burundi and Rwanda ©Peace and Sport

The 2015 Friendship Games, originally due to be held from August 7 to 9, have been postponed until November owing to the current political tension in Burundi and Rwanda, it has been announced.

The three-day event, featuring athletes from Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo aged nine to 16, will take place in Bugurama as planned but will now be staged from November 13 to 15.

It follows developments in nearby Burundi, which shares a border with Rwanda, where General Adolphe Nshimirimana, a close aid of controversial President Pierre Nkurunziza, was shot dead on Sunday (August 2) in a drive-by incident in the Kamenge district of the capital Bujumbura.

Following the death of Nshimirimana, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a human rights activist and a stern critic of the President’s re-election, was shot and seriously wounded in the capital yesterday.

Mbonimpa is reportedly in intensive care in a hospital in Bujumbura, according to news agency Reuters.

The incidents have worsened the concerns over the stability of the African country and have led to claims that the attackers have sought hiding in Rwanda, raising the possibility of friction and possible violence between the two nations.

As a result, Burundi’s Foreign Minister labelled Rwanda “unhelpful” although Rwandan officials deny any involvement or cooperation with the Burundian attackers.

General Adolphe Nshimirimana was shot dead in Burundi's capital Bujumbura on Sunday prompting security fears in both Burundi and Rwanda ©Getty Images

Burundi has been plunged into turmoil since Nkurunziza was elected for a third term as the nation’s President despite widespread criticism and opposition and around 70 people have been killed during the crisis, with United Nations figures revealing 180,000 have fled the country.

The Presidential Election itself was boycotted by the opposition and the latest developments have enhanced fears of more violence and troubles in the coming weeks and months.

It has led the organisers of the sixth edition of the African Great Lakes Friendship Games, which attempts to bring the neighbouring countries together through sport, to push this year’s event back by three months.

Around 300 young athletes from six youth centres across the three countries are due to participate in the Friendship Games which is co-organised with Peace and Sport and the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee.

Last year's competition took place from August 15 to 17 in Burundi as Gihanga played host to the event.