Sources say a significant number of Burundian soldiers who had been deployed in parts of the Rusizi plain on the South Kivu side returned to Burundi over the past two weeks after being overwhelmed by AFC/M23 forces.
Other Burundian troops are reported to have fled to different areas of South Kivu, including the city of Baraka in Fizi territory and the Itombwe forest, according to information obtained by IGIHE.
The largest remaining concentration of Burundian soldiers is said to be around Minembwe commune, which connects the territories of Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga. The troops have for a long time blocked routes used by members of the Banyamulenge community to access markets and health facilities.
SOS Médias reported that on the night of December 15 to 16, 2025, many Burundian soldiers crossed Lake Tanganyika from Baraka and Mboko, arriving at a military port in Rumonge.
AFC/M23 recently entered the Mboko centre as it continued pushing southwards, forcing back a coalition of DRC government forces whose presence had reportedly compromised civilian security. The city of Baraka remained the last major objective in the area.
As AFC/M23 took control of additional locations along Lake Tanganyika, escape routes for Burundian troops were increasingly cut off, after land routes through the Rusizi plain had already been closed.
On Tuesday morning, six trucks were deployed at the port to transport the soldiers to Bujumbura, with witnesses noting visible signs of fatigue among them.
Burundi is estimated to have deployed nearly 20,000 troops to South Kivu province to help the Congolese army battle M23 rebels. While the exact number of soldiers who have withdrawn is not yet known, sources say they number in the thousands.
AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa announced late on Monday that his fighters would withdraw from Uvira in the interest of ongoing mediation efforts but warned rival forces against re-entering the city. It remains unclear whether Burundian troops will continue their withdrawal following the announcement.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/many-burundian-soldiers-withdraw-from-eastern-drc
