Burundian soldiers who had been collaborating with the military of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for over two years in fighting the M23 Movement are reportedly being withdrawn from the eastern part of the country after suffering heavy defeats at the hands of the rebels.
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This information was revealed by the British news agency Reuters, which cited sources within the Burundian military.
A senior Burundian military officer confirmed the withdrawal, stating: “A Burundian army officer told us that their soldiers are being pulled out of the DRC. Several military vehicles started arriving in Bujumbura on Monday.”
The report was also corroborated by Pacifique Ninihazwe, the leader of the Burundian organization FECOD, which supports Burundians in distress. He recently stated that General Elie Ndizigiye, also known as “Mizinga,” who had been leading Burundian troops in the DRC, had already arrived in Bujumbura.
According to him, the general returned on Monday morning. It is reported that Burundi had deployed 16 battalions in the eastern region of the DRC.The withdrawal of Burundian troops follows a series of defeats inflicted by the M23 Movement, forcing them to retreat from Goma and Bukavu. Furthermore, the M23 Movement had recently issued a statement urging President Evariste Ndayishimiye’s government to withdraw its troops from the DRC immediately, arguing that their presence there was illegitimate.
