Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has issued a stark warning regarding the intensifying conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), cautioning that it could escalate into a wider regional war. His comments come in the wake of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group capturing Goma, the major city in eastern DRC, and advancing southward in their offensive.
This ongoing conflict is part of a protracted crisis in a region that has faced turmoil for over three decades, leading to the deaths of an estimated six million people. In a statement shared on social media, President Ndayishimiye emphasized the precarious nature of peace in the region, stating, “If Eastern Congo does not have peace, the region has no peace.” He further warned that the continuation of violence could lead to widespread warfare, asserting, “If Rwanda continues to make conquests… I know that war will even arrive in Burundi.”
As the M23 group moves towards Kavumu, a city in South Kivu known for its strategic military airfield, concerns about regional stability loom larger. The Congolese army has established a defensive line approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, indicating the heightened military activity in the area.
Burundi has actively engaged in the conflict by deploying troops to the eastern DRC as part of an East African Community force tasked with supporting the Congolese military. However, this multinational force has faced scrutiny, with allegations arising from both the DRC government and local populations that many contingents, except the Burundian troops, have been accused of colluding with opposition groups threatening Kinshasa.
As tensions mount and the humanitarian impact becomes more severe, the situation remains precarious, with the potential for wider conflict in the region seeming increasingly likely unless a resolution can be achieved.
