'Open fighting' between Burundi troops and M23 in DRC: Rwanda

Rwanda on Saturday accused Burundian troops of actively engaging in fighting against the M23 armed group in eastern DR Congo, after Burundi's president warned the conflict could spark a regional war. 

The Rwanda-backed M23 group wrested control of Goma, the main city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, earlier this week and is pushing southwards. 

The offensive is the latest to scar a region where an estimated six million people have died over three decades due to conflict. 

Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said on X that Burundian forces had been "more engaged in open fighting against the M23" since October 2023. 

The statement came hours after a Burundian military source told AFP that 10,000 Burundian soldiers were in eastern DRC, some of whom had clashed with M23 fighters. 

Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye had earlier issued a strongly-worded warning about the conflict. 

"If Eastern Congo does not have peace, the region has no peace," Ndayishimiye said in remarks posted on social media Saturday. 

"If it continues like this, war risks becoming widespread in the region," he said. 

"If Rwanda continues to make conquests I know that war will even arrive in Burundi". 

Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda of "preparing something against Burundi," adding: "we are not going to let it happen". 

Rwanda has denied any military involvement in eastern DR Congo. A UN expert report in July said Rwanda had around 4,000 soldiers in DR Congo and had "de facto" control over M23. 

Ndayishimiye's remarks came as the M23 moved south towards the strategic South Kivu city of Kavumu, which is just 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the provincial capital Bukavu. 

Burundi had deployed troops in the east of the DR Congo as part of the East African Community force supporting the Congolese military. 

At least 10,000 Burundian soldiers are currently deployed in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, a military source told AFP Saturday, under a military cooperation agreement signed in August 2023. 

Around seven battalions, tasked with tracking down a Burundian armed rebel group, had been based roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Bukavu, a senior Burundian officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. 

However, much of this force had been "redeployed around Bukavu and is participating in the defense of this province against the M23 and Rwanda alongside our (Congolese army) FARDC allies", the officer said, without giving further details. 

Burundian soldiers were killed in clashes when the M23 took the South Kivu town of Minova, prior to troops being redeployed south, the officer said. 

(AFP)