Regional
DRC: Burundian army joined FDLR in killing civilians – report
A
leaked mid-term report by the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) confirmed that Burundian troops are supporting the Congolese army
coalition in committing indiscriminate shelling, kidnappings, and targeted
assassinations.
Amid the
escalating armed conflict in eastern DRC, President Félix Tshisekedi has brought
together several militia and terrorist groups, Eastern European mercenaries, the
Burundian army, and the Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR, and Congolese national
army in a bid to defeat the M23 rebels.
Despite
failing to defeat the rebel group, the Congolese army coalition, which includes
the Burundian army, committed atrocities targeting civilians in provinces of
eastern DRC.
“Heavy
fighting resumed in early October between M23 and FARDC supported by VDP, FDLR,
private military companies and Burundian troops,” reads part of the leaked
report.
The UN
GoE reports that in the context of the struggle to ‘liberate’ territories
occupied by the M23, Congolese armed groups adopted the “Wazalendo [true
patriots]” banner to gain legitimacy and better position themselves for integration
within the Congolese national army, FARDC.
The
newly created and government-sponsored armed group coalition Volontaires pour la défense de la Patrie
(VDP) triggered a flare-up of violence, as the report notes.
Civilians
found themselves in the crosshairs of the different parties to the conflict,
exposed to retaliation and forced to flee. Indiscriminate shelling,
kidnappings, and targeted assassinations were committed.
A
secret bilateral defence pact signed in August by Tshisekedi and Burundi’s Évariste
Ndayishimiye saw Gitega deploying over 6,000 soldiers to eastern DRC.
Tshisekedi
planned such that as the polls approached, the main mission of all Burundian
soldiers in DRC had to be protecting him, his allies, and voting centers. After
the polls, all the Burundian troops would be deployed in eastern DRC to support
the Congolese army coalition in fighting M23 rebels.
Sources
close to the FARDC command, corroborated by multiple sources, reported to the
UN GoE that 1,070 troops of the Burundian army, FDNB, wearing FARDC uniforms,
were covertly deployed since early October along the Sake-Kitchanga road with
the aim of securing Masisi territory against M23, together with FARDC and “Wazalendo".
According
to the report, starting from September 21, FDNB troops were airlifted from
Bujumbura to Goma by FARDC aircraft containing FARDC uniforms and equipment,
and deployed to and around Minova, in South Kivu Province.
On October
7, two FDNB companies deployed from Minova to Kabati, several kilometers east
of Kitchanga. On October 16, at the FARDC’s request, the private military
company Congo Protection (CP) transported six trucks of FDNB troops wearing
FARDC uniforms to Kitchanga.
The report states that FDNB deployment continued until at least October 20. The FDNB troops alongside FARDC and "Wazalendo", were subsequently involved in clashes with M23 around Kitchanga and Kilolirwe.
This deployment was outside the EACRF framework. According to the East Africa Community Regional Force commander, Burundian troops involved in the Masisi area of operations were considered as legitimate forces only if part of EACRF.
Military
headquarters and the Government in Burundi denied FDNB deployment in North Kivu
outside the EACRF framework. Congolese Minister of Defence Jean- Pierre Bemba
and Gen Cirimwami also told the UN GoE they were unaware of any bilateral FDNB-FARDC
cooperation.
However,
according to sources close to FARDC command, FARDC and armed group sources, Gen
Cirimwami ordered and commanded FDNB deployment upon instruction of his
military hierarchy.
The
M23 denounced FDNB deployment outside EACRF framework. On many occasions, the
rebel group paraded captured Burundian troops in FARDC uniforms.
The
report’s confirmation of Burundian army’s involvement in the ongoing atrocities
in eastern DRC follows the allegations by the M23, of Burundian army joining
FDLR and other militia groups in killing the Congolese Tutsi, burning their houses
and looting their property.