Kigali, Rwanda – In a dramatic accusation that threatens to further destabilize an already volatile region, Rwanda has alleged that Burundi has deployed close to 20,000 troops inside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rwanda describes this as a major military escalation and a direct violation of recent peace accords, bringing long-standing regional tensions to a new peak.
The Allegation and Context of Rival Alliances
In a strongly worded statement, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed the Burundian National Defence Force (FDNB) is operating in South Kivu alongside the Congolese Army (FARDC), the FDLR (a Rwandan Hutu rebel group founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide), Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries. This coalition, Rwanda says, has been conducting systematic attacks near the Rwandan border.
The accusation underscores the complex proxy dynamics in eastern DRC. The Congolese government, alongside Burundian forces and the FDLR—Kigali’s historical enemy—is pitted against the M23 rebel group (AFC/M23). Rwanda, which the DRC and UN experts accuse of backing the M23, frames the rebel group as a defensive force for Congolese Tutsis and a necessary counterbalance to the FDLR. This latest charge paints Burundi as a direct belligerent in this conflict, moving beyond its previous role as a contingent in an East African regional force.
Claims of Attacks and Humanitarian Fallout
Rwanda alleges these coalition forces have used fighter jets and attack drones to bomb civilian villages, actions it says have forced the M23 to respond defensively. Following what Kigali calls this week’s bombing of Kamanyola from Burundian territory, over 1,000 Congolese civilians reportedly fled into Rwanda and are being hosted at a transit camp.
The statement further claims Burundian and Congolese forces have laid siege to Banyamulenge (Congolese Tutsi) villages in Minembwe, “deliberately starving residents.”
Accusations of Bad Faith and Broken Agreements
Rwanda sharply criticized the DRC for “openly declaring it would not honour any ceasefire commitments” even during negotiations. Kigali asserts that Kinshasa pursued a military solution throughout talks, despite assuring regional and international actors of its willingness to de-escalate.
“The international community has not demanded an end to these attacks,” the statement reads, highlighting Rwanda’s frustration with what it sees as a lack of pressure on the DRC.
Rwanda also accused the DRC of failing to disarm the FDLR as required by the June 2025 Peace Agreement, concluding that Kinshasa “was never ready to commit to peace.” This is a pointed reference to the Washington Accords, signed on December 4, 2025, which appear to be unraveling amid these fresh hostilities.
Call for Diplomacy Amid Rising Threat
“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace,” Rwanda warned, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis and the heightened security threat along its border.
The government called for a rapid return to the full implementation of the Washington Accords and the completion of the Doha Agreement between the DRC and the M23, describing this as “the most viable path forward for peace, stability and prosperity in the Great Lakes region.”
Regional Implications
This accusation marks a significant and dangerous expansion of regional tensions. It directly draws Burundi into the core of the Congo conflict as an alleged active combatant against Rwandan interests. The charge of a 20,000-strong Burundian deployment, if substantiated, would represent one of the largest foreign military interventions in the DRC in recent years, risking a direct confrontation between Rwandan and Burundian interests on Congolese soil and further complicating any path to a sustainable peace.
