Accused of making statements favorable to the M23, a Rumonge district official is being hunted by security services

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, December 15, 2025 — Since December 13, 2025, Augustin Hakizimana, a district official recently assigned to the communications department of the Rumonge district in Burunga province, southwestern Burundi, has been living in hiding. According to several reliable sources, he is being actively sought by security services following the leak of an audio recording deemed sensitive.

In this recording, which has gone viral in some circles, Augustin Hakizimana is reportedly speaking with a close associate and making statements perceived as favorable to the advance of the M23 rebel movement toward the city of Uvira, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local sources. The release of this audio recording reportedly triggered immediate and strong reactions against him.

Those close to him claim that following the leak, he received threats from officials of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, accusing him of sympathizing with or collaborating with the M23. In the current security context, such accusations are considered serious. They are said to have prompted a search by the security services, forcing him to avoid all public appearances.

This case comes amid a particularly tense regional situation. For several weeks, eastern DRC has been the scene of intense fighting between the M23 and Congolese forces, supported by Wazalendo militias. The rebels’ capture of Uvira has caused significant population displacement and the departure of armed elements toward Burundi, notably via Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi is directly involved in the conflict in eastern DRC, with thousands of Burundian soldiers deployed alongside Congolese forces. Gitega maintains an official stance hostile to the M23, considered a rebel movement supported by Rwanda. In this context, any expression perceived as favorable to this group is considered a threat to the national security.

Beyond the audio recording, members of Augustin Hakizimana’s family speak of a climate of ethnic repression. Of Tutsi origin and a native of the Muzenga area, in the former district of Buyengero, he had recently been promoted to Rumonge. “Some of his detractors took advantage of the leak of this audio recording to remove him,” confides a close associate, believing that this controversy served as a pretext to target him.

As of the publication of this article, no official statement had been made by the Rumonge district administration regarding this matter. The silence of the authorities continues to fuel questions surrounding the fate of Augustin Hakizimana, whose situation remains uncertain as he continues to live in hiding, fearing for his safety.