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Burundian troops withdraw from south Kivu amid rising regional tensions
The fragile security landscape of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken another dramatic turn. Burundian military personnel stationed in South Kivu Province have begun withdrawing via Lake Tanganyika, returning to Burundi at a time when rebel advances and cross-border movements are reshaping the regional balance of power.
The Withdrawal Operation
Witnesses report that Burundian soldiers used Uvira a city that fell under M23 rebel control between December 9 and 10, 2025 as their main transit point. Boats from Baraka and Mboko ferried exhausted troops to Rumonge naval base in southwestern Burundi. By dawn on Tuesday, trucks had transported them onward to Bujumbura, the country’s economic capital.
The exact number of personnel involved remains unclear, underscoring the opacity surrounding this operation.
A Wave of cross-border movements
The Burundian withdrawal coincides with a surge of Congolese soldiers and allied militias fleeing South Kivu. Nearly a thousand fighters reportedly crossed Lake Tanganyika into Rumonge over the weekend, later regrouped in military camps, stadiums, and open plots near Bujumbura.
Additional armed elements entered Burundi through Cibitoke in the northwest and the Gatumba–Kavimvira border post, highlighting the porous nature of regional frontiers and the fluidity of the conflict.
Silence from Bujumbura
Despite the scale of these movements, Burundian authorities have remained conspicuously silent. No official statement has been issued regarding either the withdrawal of Burundian troops or the influx of foreign soldiers.
This discretion has fueled speculation about: The true scale of the crisis in eastern DRC., Burundi’s strategic role in the regional conflict. The potential consequences for Burundi’s internal security and political stability.
The withdrawal of Burundian troops from South Kivu and the simultaneous arrival of Congolese soldiers and militias in Burundi mark a pivotal moment in the Great Lakes region. As rebel forces consolidate control in eastern DRC, the lack of transparency from Burundian authorities leaves citizens and observers grappling with uncertainty.
The coming weeks will determine whether this movement is a tactical retreat, a recalibration of regional alliances, or the prelude to broader instability in East Africa.
Burundian troops withdraw from south Kivu amid rising regional tensions
Ngaba abakinnyi 10 b’ umupira w’ amaguru baguzwe ibintu bitangaje, birimo inzoga, inyama, n’ ibindi.
