FDLR comprises mainly of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Reports have emerged that Burundi's military cooperates with both the FDLR and the FLN.
A senior officer in the Congolese army recently told the Great Lakes Eye that the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi are constructing a secret military base in Uvira, South Kivu province.
This facility, located in Kitoga, is allegedly intended to coordinate armed groups planning attacks on Rwanda.
The DRC is reportedly providing materials for the construction, while Burundi has been accused of holding meetings with armed groups, including the FDLR and CNRD-FLN, since August 2024. These meetings are said to focus on uniting forces to launch attacks on Rwanda.
The FDLR has a history of attacks on Rwanda's northern regions, while the CNRD-FLN launched offensives in 2018 and 2019 from Nyungwe National Park.
Speaking to the press on Friday, President Ndayishimiye rejected the accusations as baseless.
"It is like insulting us just to gain international sympathy. When we went to assist Congo, you know that it was a collective agreement among all the heads of state in East Africa, without exception, including Rwanda," he said.
"We agreed to assist the Democratic Republic of Congo in restoring peace and security [...] we agreed to fight all foreign armed groups committing crimes in Congo, without exception, while urging those based in Congo to participate in the Nairobi talks," added Ndayishimiye.
He stated that he had discussed with Rwanda and informed them of the need to assist since it was responsible for intelligence operations and could provide information on the whereabouts of the FDLR.
"Tell us where the FDLR members are and see if we won't attack them. If we don't attack them, then you'll know we are working together," Ndayishimiye stated.
Ndayishimiye echoed Tshisekedi's accusations, alleging that Rwanda collaborates with the M23 group. He claimed that after seeing Burundi's cooperation with the DRC, Rwanda began to show dissatisfaction.
Despite Ndayishimiye's claims, reports indicate that Burundian troops have held meetings following one attended by the Governor of North Kivu, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, and Brig Gen Hakizimana Antoine, also known as Jeva, who leads CNRD-FLN. They discussed joint efforts initiated in March 2024.
It is reported that the secret military base being built by the DRC and Burundi, once completed, will host armed groups opposed to the Rwandan government, where they will plan attacks. Once prepared, they are expected to use the Kibira forest in Burundi as a route to infiltrate Rwanda.
Since 2023, the armed forces of the DRC, Burundi, the FDLR, and other groups under the Wazalendo coalition have been cooperating in operations against the M23.
The governments of both countries accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 and the RED Tabara group, which opposes President Évariste Ndayishimiye's regime.
They have long been attempting to unite the FDLR and CNRD-FLN to jointly launch attacks on Rwanda.
Alcade Ndemeye
