Burundian forces have been working alongside the FARDC troops for over three years in their fight against the AFC/M23 rebel coalition, who are engaged in a battle against President Tshisekedi's government.
Various UN reports indicate that the Burundian military is working alongside FDLR fighters in this conflict.
The FDLR is a terrorist group made up of former members of EX-FAR and Interahamwe who were involved in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The group is built on the ideology of genocide, which they have spread in Eastern DR Congo for over 30 years.
Speaking to RBA on December 10, Minister Nduhungirehe confirmed that Burundi collaborates with FDLR.
"Burundi does not support the FDLR; they collaborate. Burundi works with the FDLR because it is one coalition, with FARDC joining forces with the FDLR, Burundian troops, and mercenariesâ€"it's one unified coalition," he stated.
Nduhungirehe also noted that over 20,000 Burundian soldiers stationed in South Kivu had kept the Banyamulenge people confined to their homes, preventing them from going to markets or engaging in other livelihood activities.
In Eastern DR Congo, there are between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters aligned with FARDC and Burundian forces.
"The main concern is about security. You cannot collaborate with the FDLR without intentions to disrupt Rwanda's security because what FDLR desires is to destabilize Rwanda, and you remember in 2023, during elections in DR Congo, President Tshisekedi mentioned in political meetings or on radio and TV that he had plans to launch attacks on Kigali, without deploying ground troops, and he would support Rwanda's youth in overthrowing the government."
These words, spoken publicly, were later reflected in actions as Tshisekedi aligned FARDC, FDLR, Burundian forces, and mercenaries to fight in a campaign aimed at destabilizing Rwanda.
"This situation is threatening regional security. To resolve this issue, Burundian forces need to leave Eastern Congo, the FDLR must be eradicated, and these attacks by Congolese troops should end, allowing us to implement the agreements we've signed."
Rwanda indicates that by March 2025, relations with Burundi were headed in a positive direction but were strained when President Ndayishimiye deviated from the held negotiations and began making false claims in international media that Rwanda was preparing for war against Burundi.
Rwanda and DR Congo signed peace and economic cooperation agreements on December 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C., with the presence of Burundian president.
However, on that same day, a coalition of FARDC, Burundian forces, Wazalendo, FDLR, and mercenaries launched attacks in South Kivu near the Rwandan border, causing over 1,000 people to flee to Rwanda.
Nduhungirehe said, "We told the mediators, we told everyone involved that what we want is peace. For peace to return, Burundian forces creating instability in South Kivu must withdraw, and these attacks by the Congolese government must stop so that we can implement the agreements we signed."
The signed agreements include provisions that, once the fighting ceases, a joint security coordination mechanism involving DR Congo, Rwanda, and the U.S. will be responsible for implementing security measures, including the elimination of the FDLR, after which Rwanda can lift its border security measures.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/minister-nduhungirehe-confirms-burundi-s-collaboration-with-fdlr
