Bujumbura on high alert : refugee influx, M23 threat, and massive deployment of Burundian soldiers in the DRC

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, January 11, 2026 – Bujumbura province has been placed on high alert in the face of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The provincial governor, Major General Aloys Ndayikengurukiye, is warning of the risk of infiltration and announcing strict measures against illegal crossings of the Rusizi River, amidst a massive influx of Congolese refugees.

A massive influx of refugees in Cibitoke and Bukinanyana

Speaking at a security meeting held on Friday, January 9, at Buganda Stadium in the Bukinanyana district, the governor indicated that the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC, observed for about a month, has led to the arrival of a large number of refugees in the districts of Cibitoke and Bukinanyana.

Faced with this situation, he urged citizens to cooperate closely with the security forces by reporting anyone likely to disturb public order or threaten national security.

Call for vigilance from local authorities

The governor also asked administrative officials and local leaders to be extra vigilant in order to prevent any infiltration of hostile elements into the Burundian territory.

According to him, the porous borders could be exploited by enemies of the country, in a regional context marked by the presence of armed groups active in eastern DRC.

Illegal trade and Rusizi River crossings under surveillance

Aloys Ndayikengurukiye denounced the continued illegal cross-border trade across the Rusizi River, particularly involving individuals in the Congolese territory with whom some Burundians maintain ties.

He warned that anyone caught crossing the Rusizi to reach areas controlled by the M23 rebel movement, which Burundian authorities say is supported by the Rwandan army, will be considered an enemy of the nation and severely punished.

These warnings were reiterated by the provincial secretary of the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, Alexandre Ngoragoze, who emphasized the need for a firm stance against anyone involved in such activities.

Residents, for their part, reported that young people affiliated with the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party, are allegedly involved in this illegal cross-border trade. According to several testimonies, some of them allegedly threatened to kill anyone caught in the act.

Refugees ordered to move to official camps

The authorities reiterated that Congolese refugees are not permitted to reside in cities. In accordance with current regulations, they must be sheltered in camps officially designated by the State.

Any Burundian citizen caught harboring a Congolese national outside of these legal frameworks will be considered as protecting an enemy of the country and prosecuted accordingly.

Regional context : M23/AFC, mining issues, and proxy war

Reactivated in 2021, the M23, composed primarily of Congolese Tutsis, is now part of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), led by Corneille Nangaa, former president of the Congolese Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

The AFC/M23 now controls several strategic areas in North and South Kivu, including Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals, as well as the Rubaya mining site, one of the world’s largest coltan deposits. This strategic mineral provides a significant portion of the world’s tantalum, essential to the electronics industry and new technologies. The movement advocates for the establishment of a federal state in the DRC.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the M23, while Rwanda denounces the alleged support of the DRC and Burundi for the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu armed group whose members are accused of participating in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

Despite Rwandan denials, a report by the UN Group of Experts mentions the presence of 5,000 to 7,000 Rwandan soldiers alongside AFC/M23 fighters.

On the ground, clashes continue despite the Washington Agreement, signed on December 4, 2025, between the DRC and Rwanda under US mediation. Burundi participated in this agreement as an observer, represented by President Évariste Ndayishimiye, but this has not been enough to curb the military escalation.

A heavy price paid by the Burundian army

Since August 2022, Burundi has deployed more than 29,000 soldiers in eastern DRC, according to an internal report from the Congolese Ministry of the Interior and Security consulted by SOS Médias Burundi.
Burundian soldiers are fighting alongside the FARDC, the Congolese loyalist army, and local Wazalendo militias supported by Kinshasa. In some situations, the coalition also includes elements of the FDLR.

In this conflict with multiple regional ramifications, Burundian soldiers continue to pay a heavy price, often in the shadows and in silence, while the Great Lakes region sinks into lasting instability with major human, security, and geopolitical consequences.

Growing humanitarian pressure

The ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC continue to force thousands of families to flee to neighboring countries. Burundi alone took in approximately 90,000 Congolese refugees in December 2025, adding to more than 70,000 refugees already present earlier in the year, intensifying the humanitarian pressure on the small east African nation.

Bujumbura province, bordering South Kivu, remains the main transit point for these refugees, while a minority cross Lake Tanganyika to reach the port city of Rumonge in the southwest of the country.

Persistent concerns among the population

Despite the announced security measures, numerous concerns persist among the population. Some observers believe that stricter regulations could worsen the humanitarian situation and are advocating for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow Congolese civilians to move about safely.

The security meeting held at Buganda Stadium brought together administrative authorities, heads of the defense and security forces, and representatives of religious denominations, illustrating the gravity of the crisis and the scale of the security and humanitarian challenges facing Burundi.