Burundi's minister of public security Alain Guillaume Bunyoni (C) visits with other officials Ruhagarika village where 26 people were killed by the armed group in northwestern Burundi bordering with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 12, 2018, just days before the constitutional referendum that may allow the President Pierre Nkurunziza to remain in power until 2034. (Photo by STR / AFP)
The Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF) has firmly rejected accusations that it is training or arming members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing the claims as “baseless and inflammatory.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, July 27, Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, spokesperson for the BNDF, emphasized Burundi’s commitment to peaceful relations with its neighbors.
“Burundi lives in harmony with all neighboring countries. This is in accordance with its policy of non-aggression and good neighborliness,” the statement read.
The response follows allegations made on July 25 by the MRDP-Twirwaneho movement, which accused Burundi of training and supplying weapons to FDLR fighters in Luvungi, Lubarika, Rurambo, and Minembwe. The MRDP-Twirwaneho spokesperson warned that these actions could lead to a potential massacre targeting the Banyamulenge community in South Kivu.
The BNDF categorically denied the charges, asserting that all its military programs are focused solely on national needs. “All military training and education is organized in a professional manner for the benefit of Burundians according to the needs of the FDNB,” said Brigadier General Baratuza.
The statement also underscored Burundi’s record of hosting Congolese refugees, including members of the Banyamulenge community, many of whom continue to live peacefully in camps and urban areas across the country. “In addition to these, there are the refugees recently welcomed during the security disturbances in the east of the DRC,” Baratuza added.
The BNDF condemned what it called a “genocidal narrative” targeting the Banyamulenge, claiming it was designed to inflame ethnic divisions since the arrival of AFC/M23-Twirwaneho elements in Minembwe and surrounding areas.
Reiterating its official role in the region, the Burundian army clarified that its forces are present in eastern DRC under bilateral agreements with Kinshasa, working alongside the Congolese army (FARDC) to combat negative forces, both Burundian and foreign. “This mission is carried out with professionalism and strict respect for human rights and international humanitarian law,” the statement affirmed.
The BNDF concluded by urging all communities in South Kivu to reject ethnic-based manipulation and maintain social cohesion in the face of rising tensions.
About The Author
