On October 6, Congolese soldiers, local militia and Wazalendo, were seen entering Kitchanga, a town in the Rutshuru Territory of North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, armed to the teeth with guns and other traditional weapons.

Videos circulating in the media showed ‘a triumphant entry’ of the militia groups and Congolese troops, who are ready to fight the M23 rebels, in violation of a ceasefire earlier established by the Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives.

Kitchanga, like many other areas, in eastern DRC, has been in control of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF). A Burundi contingent of the EAC Regional Force is deployed to the area.

During their 22^nd Ordinary Meeting held on July 22, 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania, the Summit of East African Community (EAC) Heads of State directed to expeditiously deploy a joint regional force in eastern DRC to restore peace and security. 

The first troops, a Kenyan contingent, under the regional force landed in Goma, in November 2022.

They were joined, a few months later, by contingents from Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan.

The EAC Regional Force’s mandate and mission was simple; to create a buffer zone to prevent confrontations between the government forces (FARDC) and M23 rebels, take over areas the rebels withdrew from, prepare and observe the pre-cantonment process, all the while protecting civilians from armed groups.

In May, the EAC noted that EACRF has made tremendous progress in its efforts to restore peace and stability in eastern DRC as envisaged by the Summit of EAC Heads of State.

“In line with Decisions of the Summit, the EACRF has continued to ensure observance of ceasefire and in addition overseeing the withdrawal of armed groups who have handed over to the EACRF most of the areas that were under their control. These areas include Karuba, Mushaki, Kiloriwe, Kitchange, Mweso, Kishishe, Bambo, Mnagana, Tchengerero, Kiwanja and Kinyandoni. These areas have since been under the control of various EACRF contingents which will now enable residents to return to their homes and businesses,” stated an EAC statement in May.

“The EAC is proud of the work that has so far been accomplished by the EACRF towards restoration of Peace and Security in the eastern DRC.”

Five months later, however, the situation in eastern DRC is worrying.

Despite the EAC stressing that it is “fully committed to ensure restoration of peace and security in eastern DRC and any other part of the region,” the Burundian contingent has failed to adhere to the regional bloc’s mandate and has failed the Congolese civilians they were expected to protect.

Upon landing in Goma in March, the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) were immediately deployed to take control of Kitchanga and Sake areas from the M23 rebels, who had voluntary withdrawn from the areas.

However, since October 1, fighting between FARDC, their allies comprising of genocidal FDLR, Wazalendo and other militias, against the M23 erupted. The rebels were attacked at Kilolirwe, Nturo, Gicwa, and some other areas in Masisi Territory. In addition to the fighting, houses of Congolese Tutsi communities were set on fire in the town of Nturo. The government coalition killed a number of unarmed civilians and looted their property.

All the fighting and atrocities happened in the areas under the control of the Burundian contingent.

The Burundian government also deployed more than 1,000 other troops to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces outside the framework of the EAC, to support the Congolese army.

Sources from Gitega and Kinshasa confirmed that this bilateral military agreement will see Burundian soldiers fighting alongside the FARDC, wearing the latter’s uniform.

The Burundian troops under this bilateral arrangement receive instructions directly from Kinshasa. Their mission is directed by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. They will not be constrained by any regional protocols and regulations.

Amid the crisis the Burundian army released a statement, on October 6, claiming that their soldiers under EACRF operate professionally.

“Wherever Burundian soldiers are deployed in eastern DRC, they are highly appreciated by the populations they protect against any threat, including the theft of their property by armed groups,” read part of the statement.

But for the Congolese civilians co-habitating with the Burundian soldiers, many questions remain unanswered. How can they claim to be acting professionally when the Congolese Tutsi are being killed in their presence? How do they explain the pillaging of cows, burning of houses of these people? Why have they ceded the areas under their control to FARDC and its militia allies?

What’s now clear is that Burundi’s actions encouraged the FARDC's belligerence to violate the ceasefire in place since February. If nothing changes,  for the better, Burundi’s stance in eastern DRC threatens to make a bad situation worse by minimizing the progress already made.

Observers of the peace process in the DRC had already painted a complex picture of the conflict, with parties routinely shifting bases or allegiance depending on interests.

The situation is very complicated, with very many forces and interests at play.

But  it gets even worse, with some countries in the region and the larger international community paying lip service to peace, and actually ending up complicating matters, which undermines the regional processes.