Shock at the Mwaro military camp : Wazalendo militiamen buy and eat dogs after the fall of Uvira

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, December 17, 2025 – Following the fall of Uvira, located a few kilometers from Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital and home to UN agencies and the central administration, the Mwaro military camp, specialized in heavy artillery and located in Gitega province (central Burundi), is hosting Wazalendo militiamen supported by Congolese and Burundian authorities.

Among the practices that have sparked shock and outrage among local residents, some fighters have been observed buying and eating dogs from neighboring inhabitants, paying up to 250,000 Burundi francs per animal. This practice is considered an affront to public morals in Burundi, where dog consumption is prohibited and punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 Burundi francs. In the past, Congolese citizens have been expelled for violating this law.

The militiamen are kept separate from civilians, with Burundian authorities stating they rely on the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) to manage them.

Unusual practices and concerning living conditions

In addition to the purchase of dogs, the lack of sanitation facilities at the camp forces some Wazalendo to bathe in streams below, in full view of passersby, including children and girls returning from school. This situation generates social unrest and complaints from families living nearby.

The internal climate is also worrying : female soldiers at the camp avoid certain movements for fear of sexual violence, although no incidents have been officially reported.

The supervision of the Wazalendo is deemed inadequate, with a single officer overseeing a large number of fighters, raising questions about :

Discipline and security within the camp

The exact role of the Burundian military authorities

Responsibility in the event of incidents

The Wazalendo also face financial difficulties due to the non-immediate convertibility of Congolese francs, which limits their access to essential goods and fosters informal markets.

Call for greater clarity and urgent measures

The temporary presence of these foreign fighters, combined with insufficient infrastructure, necessitates enhanced supervision, an urgent improvement in sanitary conditions, and clear official communication, especially to protect local residents and children.

Regional context

Reactivated in 2021, the M23, composed mainly of Congolese Tutsis, now controls several towns in North and South Kivu, including Uvira, as well as other strategic areas rich in minerals.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the movement

Rwanda denounces the support of the DRC and Burundi for the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu armed group implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

These cross-accusations persist despite the Washington Agreement, signed on December 4, 2025, under the US mediation between the DRC and Rwanda, with Burundi represented as an observer, intended to pave the way for regional de-escalation.

Kigali continues to deny its support for the rebels despite the recent report by UN experts, whom Rwandan authorities have dismissed as “imposters,” confirming the presence of 5,000 to 7,000 Rwandan soldiers alongside the M23.

The security and humanitarian fallout is already being felt in neighboring Burundi, which has taken in more than 70,000 Congolese refugees since early December, including soldiers and militiamen, as the Uvira land crossing has become impassable.