Buhumuza : Kigarika, the new laboratory for the militarization of the Imbonerakure

SOS Médias Burundi

Ruyigi, September 5, 2026 — President Évariste Ndayishimiye attended the ceremony on Thursday in Kigarika, Ruyigi district, Buhumuza province, eastern Burundi, where the first class of members of the Reserve and Development Support Force (FRAD) received their berets. A total of 231 members, who had completed three months of training, participated in the ceremony, which was held amidst a heavy security presence around the training site and in the town of Ruyigi.

Formerly a public seed center, Kigarika is now used as a military training center and notably hosts members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the CNDD-FDD, the former Hutu rebellion that became the ruling party in Burundi in 2005.

A ceremony marked by military demonstrations

The ceremony notably included an inspection of the troops by the Head of State, the planting of fruit and forest trees, and the watering of seedlings presented as contributing to the environmental protection.

Members of the first FRAD graduating class also demonstrated various combat techniques learned during their three months of training.

The Chief of Staff of the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB), General Prime Niyongabo, as well as several individuals close to the presidency, were present.

A ceremony without a presidential address

Unlike some official ceremonies attended by the Head of State, Évariste Ndayishimiye did not deliver a speech in Kigarika.

His participation was limited to attending the ceremony, inspecting the troops, and participating in various planned activities, particularly those related to the environmental protection.

The ceremony thus focused primarily on the first graduating class of the FRAD (Forces de Défense et d’Action) and their military training.

An unusually low-profile presidential visit

The organization of this visit also attracted the attention of several observers.

The announcement of the event to the public media came late the night before the ceremony. The National Radio and Television of Burundi (RTNB), the Burundi Press Agency (ABP), the Burundi Press Publication (PPB), and the FDNB (Burundi National Defense Force) communications unit were informed of the President’s arrival at a very late hour.

The schedule called for the Head of State’s arrival at 9:00 a.m. He finally arrived about two hours later.

On the road linking Gitega, Burundi’s political capital, to Kigarika, the presidential journey was also marked by unusual discretion. Unlike some presidential trips to which the population is accustomed, no particularly noisy motorcade, with sirens or flashing lights, was observed along part of the route.

Media subject to strict control

Media coverage of the event was also tightly controlled.

Journalists present were directed to predetermined locations and could not move freely to take pictures or photographs of the ceremony.

This organization limited the possibilities for independent coverage of the various stages of the event, including troop movements and the security apparatus deployed around the site.

A heavy security presence around Kigarika

The ceremony took place while some residents of Ruyigi reported observing a significant presence of soldiers, police officers, and members of youth affiliated with the ruling party in the city and its surrounding areas.

Near Kigarika, several security sector facilities are located within a relatively small area. These include the 22nd Commando Battalion camp in Murehe, the Ruyigi police station, the Rapid Intervention Mobile Group (GMIR), and facilities related to FRAD training.

This concentration of security structures is raising concerns among some residents in a province that is not officially experiencing a war.

For some residents interviewed, the proximity of several security structures, coupled with the military training observed in Kigarika, raises questions about the purpose of this deployment.

Some wonder, in particular, whether this presence is solely for the training and organization of the reserve force or if it serves other objectives.

Others question whether the country is strengthening its military capabilities in the face of potential threats.

These questions, however, remain those of ordinary citizens and, in the absence of an official statement, do not constitute proof of any preparation for war. No authority present in Kigarika publicly presented the security deployment during the ceremony as being linked to conflict preparation.

Kigarika, a symbol of the growing militarization of the Imbonerakure

For residents of the region, the transformation of Kigarika reflects the growing militarization of the Imbonerakure, whose activities and training are increasingly resembling those of the defense and security forces.

This development is considered worrying by some local and foreign observers. It raises questions about the future role of this youth organization and the consequences of its military training, in a political context already marked by significant tensions.

The presence of Imbonerakure members within the FRAD’s training programs thus gives a new dimension to their leadership, even though their role within the ruling party has, for several years, extended beyond purely youth-related activities.

Ndayishimiye wants to turn the Imbonerakure into “commandos”

The presidential visit to Kigarika comes a few days after President Ndayishimiye announced his intention to transform the Imbonerakure into “commandos.”

The head of state also declared his desire to make “every Burundian citizen” a soldier. These statements were made on August 29, during the celebration of the Imbonerakure Day in Gitega.

In Kigarika, these declarations took on a concrete dimension with the presentation of berets to 231 members who had completed three months of training, including combat techniques.

Beyond the environmental aspect highlighted during the ceremony, the Kigarika site has emerged as a place where military training, the supervision of youth members of the ruling party, and a reinforced security forces presence now converge.

For some residents of Ruyigi, this development raises questions about the role that the FRAD and the Imbonerakure might play in Burundi’s security apparatus in the future.