Burundi has expedited the withdrawal of its troops from the DRC as conflict escalates in the eastern part of the country, media reported.
A senior military source confirmed the decision to a Western media outlet on Thursday, coinciding with a warning from the United Nations about Burundi facing its largest influx of refugees from the DRC in 25 years.
The move comes as violence intensifies in eastern DRC, where government forces continue to battle various armed groups. In a recent airstrike, the Congolese military killed Michel Rukunda, also known as Makanika, a former Congolese army colonel and leader of the Twiraneho militia. According to local reports, Makanika was eliminated in South Kivu province alongside several of his close associates. His group had been coordinating operations with the M23 rebel movement, which has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks.
M23, reportedly backed by Rwanda, has advanced into strategic areas after capturing two key cities, according to the UN. The growing instability has prompted international reactions, with Germany summoning the Rwandan ambassador in Berlin to condemn M23's actions and urge political dialogue to prevent further escalation. At the same time, Kinshasa has called on Rwanda to rejoin the Luanda peace process, accusing its neighbor of derailing efforts to end the conflict.
At the United Nations, DRC’s Ambassador Zenon Mukongo Ngay criticized the Security Council for what he described as a lack of decisive action on the crisis. In an interview with Sputnik, he accused the UN of focusing more on conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza while failing to address the worsening humanitarian and security situation in his country.
Meanwhile, regional concerns are growing, with Kenya considering the evacuation of its citizens from DRC due to the spreading violence.
In eastern Congo, disorder has also affected the Congolese military itself, as some soldiers reportedly deserted and engaged in looting in Lubero after fleeing battles with rebel forces. The army has since ordered them to return within 12 hours and warned against any further misconduct, according to reports.