Buganda : the Burundian army receives Congolese and Rwandan fighters and militiamen fleeing defeats against the M23

SOS Médias Burundi

Buganda, December 11, 2025 — Between December 7 and 10, more than 2,000 aCongolese and Rwandan afighters and militiamen, fleeing defeats against the M23 rebels, were received by the Burundian army in Buganda and the surrounding area, in the Cibitoke border region of northwestern Burundi. Their arrival has sparked concern and tension among the local population.

A massive influx of fighters into Burundi

Since December 7, more than 2,000 Congolese soldiers and militiamen, as well as members of the FDLR (Forces of Liberation of Rwanda) — accused of participating in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi — have crossed the border seeking refuge. Intense fighting with the M23 has taken place in several localities in the Uvira territory: Kamanyola, Katogota, Luvungi, Lubarika, Bwegera, Luberizi, Sange, and Kiliba.

Approximately 1,600 FARDC soldiers, accompanied by FDLR elements and 400 Wazalendo militiamen, including a leader calling himself “General Kamama,” have been assembled on the Buganda football field, under the supervision of the Burundian army. Others dispersed towards the Cishemere and Kansega transit camps, where they were gradually identified. Several crossed the bridge over the Rusizi River, which separates the DRC and Burundi, and were spotted in Kaburantwa.

A fragile and worrying situation

In Buganda, the Wazalendo militiamen have no food rations and depend on aid from local residents, under the watchful eye of the Burundian police and army. The FARDC and FDLR, on the other hand, receive food directly from the Burundian forces.

The local population is worried about potential unrest if the fighters run out of food. Some fear that these groups will “go to people’s homes and demand food by force.”

Transfer in preparation and the role of the ICRC

Military and administrative officials indicated that a site away from the border is being prepared to accommodate these fighters, pending possible transfer to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
For fighters currently in transit camps, investigations will determine their status before any further relocation.

The city of Uvira is now secure, according to the AFC/M23

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the AFC/M23 announced:

“The city of Uvira is now completely liberated and under the secure protection of the Liberation Forces. Today, the threat has been eliminated. Our compatriots are called upon to resume their activities with complete peace of mind. Those who fled the abuses of the negative forces that have terrorized the city of Uvira for several months can freely return to their homes, now free from all persecution, harassment, and all forms of violence.”

“The AFC/M23 reaffirms its unwavering determination to protect civilians and defend their rights against any aggression, regardless of its origin,” added Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the movement.

Tense regional context

Reactivated in 2021, the M23 is part of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), led by Corneille Nangaa, which advocates for a federal state in the DRC. The movement currently controls several provincial capitals in North and South Kivu, as well as strategic mining areas.

Kinshasa has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, accusations rejected by Kigali. Conversely, Rwanda accuses the DRC and Burundi of supporting the FDLR.

Since 2023, Burundi has deployed more than 10,000 soldiers to support the FARDC, the Congolese loyalist army, and the Wazalendo militias, which are backed by Kinshasa. The Washington agreement, signed on December 4 under American mediation—with Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye as an observer—stipulates the disarmament of the FDLR, which President Félix Tshisekedi describes as a “residual force reduced to banditry.”