EngRegional
Burundi deploys more troops in DRC, covers vacuum of those killed
In late May, about 1,200 soldiers of the Burundian army, FDNB, were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in line with the military bilateral agreement of the two governments.
The FDNB’s mission in eastern
DRC is to fight the M23 rebels alongside the Congolese army, FARDC.
This deployment comes after
several other deployments, to cover the vacuum of the ones killed. So far, more
than 8,000 Burundian troops have been deployed to DRC with hundreds dying on
the battlefield.
Gitega and Kinshasa have had a
thriving relationship following a secret bilateral defense pact signed in
August 2023, by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Burundi’s Évariste
Ndayishimiye.
By August 2023, more than
6,000 Burundian troops were deployed to DRC. While they were allegedly securing
the December 2023 elections, the soldiers deployed were involved in battling
the M23.
By February 6, Burundi had
deployed a battalion of more than 600 soldiers to replace a battalion which was
defeated, with half of its soldiers either dead or seriously wounded.
Burundian soldiers are being
killed and others seriously injured, and several others captured in the battle
against M23 rebels in North Kivu Province. Since November 29, 2023, the
Burundian army has been repatriating many casualties.
Several reports have indicated
that the Burundian army has suffered heavy casualties, while grieving Burundian
families are against any more deployment of FDNB soldiers to DRC.
The bilateral agreement
entailed that Kinshasa pays $5,000, monthly, for each Burundian soldier who is
fighting alongside their national army against M23 rebels.
In addition to this, the
Congolese government is supposed to pay an additional unspecified amount for
soldiers who die in the war and the ones who are wounded.
Tshisekedi does not want peace
in DRC, and Ndayishimiye is only fulfilling his wishes at the cost of his own
compatriots. It remains unclear whether Ndayishimiye will continue to send more
troops to DRC to die for an unjustifiable cause.
Many FDNB soldiers question
why they are being involved in fighting a war that benefits foreign countries,
with some of them protesting against it and requesting for repatriation to
their home country.
December 8, 2023, saw 150
Burundian troops sent back home, following their protest against orders from
their government to support the Congolese army coalition in fighting the M23
rebels. Upon return home, they ended up being interrogated, prosecuted, and
detained.
Knowing that the DRC conflict
is an internal problem, Burundian soldiers do not find any reason why they
should be part of the war.
The deployment of more Burundian troops to eastern DRC to fight M23 rebels, not only led to divisions among Burundian politicians but also military officials who see things differently. Burundian soldiers who oppose their country's participation in the war do it at their own risk. Many have died in DRC while others only returned home to be detained.
