As security continues to deteriorate in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), major shifts are increasingly evident on the side of Burundian troops who had been deployed for a long time in South Kivu.
Over the past two weeks, many Burundian soldiers have begun returning home after the AFC/M23 alliance continued to seize key areas, including the city of Uvira.
These troops had been stationed in the Rusizi Plain and in areas surrounding Lake Tanganyika, zones that host critical trade and security routes for the Banyamulenge community. However, as AFC/M23 kept pushing southward, Burundian forces steadily lost their positions and eventually opted to withdraw from the fighting and return home.
Various sources from local residents and security circles confirm that some Burundian soldiers left the areas they had been controlling and returned to their country via Lake Tanganyika, particularly from the city of Baraka and the Mboko area.
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On the night of December 15–16, 2025, a rapid evacuation operation took place, transporting Burundian soldiers across the lake. They were received at a military port in the city of Rumonge. Witnesses say the soldiers appeared extremely exhausted, reflecting the long journey and the intense pressure of the fighting they had just left behind.
On the morning of December 16, six military trucks were dispatched to the port to transport the soldiers to Bujumbura. No official figures have been released, but reliable sources say those who returned number in the thousands.
Previously, Burundi had deployed nearly 20,000 troops to South Kivu, in coordination with the Congolese national army, Wazalendo groups, and the FDLR. However, AFC/M23’s advances in the Rusizi Plain dramatically altered the balance of the conflict.
Other Burundian soldiers who have not been able to return home reportedly fled into the Itombwe forest and parts of Fizi territory, where security remains fragile. In these areas, residents report losses of life and a worsening humanitarian situation for civilians—especially the Banyamulenge—who had long been cut off from access to markets and health facilities.
Around Minembwe Commune, which links the territories of Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga, a significant number of Burundian troops are still present. This area has become a focal point of intense fighting due to its strategic importance for security and ethnic relations.
Meanwhile, AFC/M23 continued its advance along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, capturing the Mboko center and leaving the difficult task of taking the city of Baraka. These advances completely blocked all land routes Burundian troops could have used to return home, leaving them with very limited options.
On December 16, AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa announced that the alliance had decided to withdraw from the city of Uvira, while stressing that opposing forces should not re-enter it. This statement created uncertainty about the future of Burundian troops still present in certain parts of South Kivu.
As Burundian forces return home, another concerning picture is emerging along the Burundi–Rwanda border. In recent days, Burundi has deployed large numbers of troops and heavy weapons to the Busoni area in Butanyerera Province, near the Gasenyi–Nemba border crossing.
Senior Burundian military officials stated that these weapons were intended “to block anything coming from Rwanda,” as tensions continue to rise between the two countries. This followed remarks by Burundi’s ambassador to the United Nations, who accused Rwanda of supporting AFC/M23 and warned that his country could confront Rwanda.
In Busoni, residents say they have recently seen police trucks transporting soldiers to military bases, including the 411th unit located in Mutwenzi. Night patrols have increased, with a visible presence of police and members of the Imbonerakure youth group affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
Although no written orders have been issued instructing people to return home early, residents report that no one is allowed to remain on the streets past 8 p.m. This has fueled fear among the population, with many believing that war could break out at any moment.
In Bujumbura Province, particularly in areas formerly known as Cibitoke, security has been significantly tightened. Heavy weapons were recently deployed there and were used to fire shells into the Kamanyola area, near Rwanda’s Bugarama border.
Those shellings are said to have triggered the expansion of fighting in the Rusizi Plain, prompting AFC/M23 to launch operations that culminated in the capture of Uvira, a key city linking land routes to Lake Tanganyika.
Reliable sources confirm that Burundi has for some time been purchasing heavy weapons and combat drones. Some of these weapons have already been used in fighting in South Kivu, indicating that the country had long been preparing for a potentially wider war.
Over the past two weeks, more than 30 heavy trucks carrying weapons entered the Mukoni military base in Buhumuza Province. The unloading process took several days, raising questions among residents about a major operation being prepared.
As Burundian troops continue to withdraw from the DRC, the pressing question remains whether this pullout will continue, or whether it is part of a broader strategy to reinforce positions along the Rwanda border. Confidence is low, fear is widespread, and the region remains on edge, awaiting any decision that could change the course of this conflict.
