Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye's actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sparked concerns about regional stability and his commitment to peace processes. As the current Chairperson of the African Union and the East African Community, Ndayishimiye was expected to play a crucial role in strengthening the regional peace process aimed at ending violence in eastern DRC. However, his involvement has been criticized for fueling the crisis instead of mediating it.
Ndayishimiye's approach has been accused of undermining the East African Community's modest gains in the region. The regional force, which included troops from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda, was mandated to support the political process, protect civilians, and help enforce peace agreements. However, Ndayishimiye supported Kinshasa's refusal to negotiate with the M23 rebel group, effectively opposing the position of other regional leaders.
The situation escalated in May 2023 when Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi stated that only the Burundian troops had met his expectations. Tshisekedi accused the EAC force of collaborating with M23 terrorists. Ndayishimiye's approach led to the withdrawal of the EAC force, followed by an expansion of Burundi's bilateral military involvement alongside the Congolese army.
Burundi's decision to fight alongside the FDLR, an armed group founded by remnants of the forces responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has been seen as a betrayal by Rwanda. Rwanda had supported the EAC deployment on the understanding that its own security concerns would also be addressed. The regional force had a mandate to neutralize foreign armed groups operating in eastern Congo, including the FDLR.
The incident has damaged the relationship between M23 and Burundian forces, as well as between Burundi and Rwanda. In Nturo, North Kivu, Burundian forces stood by as militias burned approximately 300 homes belonging to Tutsi families. The incident further strained the already fragile relationship between M23 and Burundian forces.
Ndayishimiye's actions have been criticized for collaborating with the FDLR in targeting Congolese Tutsis. As the current Chairperson of the African Union, he should be condemning the persecution of Congolese Tutsis instead of collaborating with the FDLR. His actions have lost much of the trust he had at the beginning of the conflict.
The situation remains volatile, with the risk of deepening tensions between Burundi and neighboring Rwanda. Burundi's security cannot ultimately be separated from the security of its neighbors. The question is whether Ndayishimiye's policy will contribute to regional stability or deepen the divisions that have kept eastern DRC at war for decades.
Key points
- Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye's involvement in the DRC conflict has raised concerns about regional stability and his commitment to peace processes.
- Ndayishimiye's approach has undermined the East African Community's modest gains in the region.
- Burundi's decision to fight alongside the FDLR has been seen as a betrayal by Rwanda, damaging relationships between M23 and Burundian forces, as well as between Burundi and Rwanda.
