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Hundreds of Burundian soldiers detained for refusing to fight M23
Hundreds
of Burundian soldiers were detained and others have been dismissed from the
army since December 2023, for refusing to battle the M23 rebels in the east of
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On
February 28, the Associated Press reported that the soldiers are detained in
four prisons in Bururi, Rumonge, Ngozi, and Ruyigi; on charges of mutiny and
refusal to follow battle orders.
August
2023 saw the governments of DRC and Burundi signigning a secret bilateral
defense pact, which led to more than 6,000 Burundian troops being deployed to
eastern DRC.
Many
of the soldiers questioned why they would be involving in fighting that
benefits foreign countries, with some of them protesting against it and
requesting for repatriation to their home country. At least 150 Burundian
troops were sent back to Burundi on December 8, 2023, 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 then detained.
Related: DRC: Burundian troops protest against order to fight M23
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 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.
Apart
from those who were detained, a large number of Burundian soldiers were killed
and others injured in the battle against M23 rebels in North Kivu Province.
Since late November 2023, the Burundian army has been repatriating its
casualties.
Sources
say Burundian families regret not finding a way to mourn their relatives who
died in battles in eastern DRC. Those who dared to oppose the deployment or
claimed for the bodies of their deceased relatives were also detained.
The
deployment of Burundian troops to DRC is for the personal gains of President
Évariste Ndayishimiye. Sources have indicated that the Congolese government
pays $5,000, monthly, for each Burundian soldier who is fighting alongside the
Congolese national army against M23 rebels.
But,
only senior political and military officials are filling their pockets with the
cash from DRC, an issue that is causing wrangles among Burundian soldiers and
politicians.
Families
of Burundian soldiers complain about the death of their relatives in DRC, but
Ndayishimiye cannot give up the money he is receiving from DRC.
The
Congolese army coalition of Southern African Development Community (SADC)
troops, Eastern European mercenaries, Burundian soldiers, the Rwandan genocidal
militia, FDLR, the UN mission in DRC, as well as a myriad of several other
Congolese militia groups grouped under what is called Wazalendo, are all
attacking M23 rebels who are fighting to protect Kinyarwanda-speaking
Congolese. The latter are disowned by their own government and have no option
but to defend themselves.
