EngRegional
How Burundi’s Ndayishimiye helped a neighbour burn his house
Burundi’s
stance in the escalating security crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) is a big concern not only to the Congolese people and the entire
region, but also to Gitega.
When
he was the East African Community Chairperson, President Evariste Ndayishimiye
of Burundi blundered. He decided to intervene militarily and supported
Kinshasa’s refusal to negotiate peace with M23 rebels.
The
move reversed the EAC’s modest gains.
The Burundian government sent troops to support the Congolese army in violating the peace processes initiated to help restore peace in eastern DRC, where more than 260 armed groups continue to wreak havoc.
Ndayishimiye
as Chair of the EAC Summit had the opportunity to play a crucial role in
strengthening the initiated peace process to halt violence in eastern DRC. But
he, instead, undermined the peace process.
The
55-year-old should have prioritized the EAC’s resolutions, which emphasized
political dialogue, over President Felix Tshisekedi’s push for a military
approach against the M23 rebellion. But he took a different path, siding
with Tshisekedi, and opting for war. Consequently, the Congolese leader was
emboldened.
In May
2023, Tshisekedi stated that of all EAC contingents in the DRC, only the
Burundian troops were the ones who met expectations.
“The
Burundian army is the only one operating against armed groups as part of the
force of East African countries deployed since the end of 2022 in the east of
the Democratic Republic of Congo", Tshisekedi said, adding that “There is
a kind of collaboration between the EAC force and
the M23 terrorists.”
The
Burundian army joined the Congolese army’s coalition Eastern European
mercenaries, local militia groups such as the newly created Wazalendo, and the
Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, which was founded by remnants of the
perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The
coalition is responsible for mass killings targeting Congolese Tutsi, looting
their property, as well as burning their houses.
Ndayishimiye
should be condemning the ethnic cleansing targeting Congolese Tutsi instead of
collaborating with FDLR in persecuting them. The Burundian President should
have urged Tshisekedi to employ dialogue just like other regional leaders did.
Burundian
troops are not only fighting alongside the Congolese army, but also the
genocidal group, FDLR.
With
the Burundian army fighting alongside the Rwandan genocidal group, there is a
high risk that Burundi’s actions could re-ignite tensions with neighbouring
Rwanda.
Relations
between Rwanda and Burundi, initially on the rocks, have been on a mend of
sorts.
In mid
2021, Rwanda’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente visited Bujumbura for the
Independence Day celebrations - the first time a high profile official from
Rwanda travelled to Burundi ever since the political crisis erupted in 2015.
Earlier,
Rwanda’s military had handed over 19 armed men who had conducted an attack in
Burundi and fled to Rwanda.
