Reports Claim DRCongo Special Forces Deployed to Burundi
BUJUMBURA – Burundi has reportedly received 637 members of the Democratic Republic of Congo's elite special forces unit, known as the "Hiboux," according to sources familiar with regional security developments.
The sources indicate that some of the troops are currently stationed in the Burundian capital, Gitega, while others have reportedly been deployed to areas near the Rwandan border, including Kirundo and Mabayi in Butanyerera Province.
The purpose of the deployment has not been officially disclosed by either Burundian or Congolese authorities. However, observers suggest the move could be linked to ongoing military cooperation between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in operations against the AFC/M23 movement in eastern Congo.
The reported deployment comes amid heightened tensions in the Great Lakes region, where relations between Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo have remained strained due to the conflict in eastern DRC and broader regional security concerns.
Recent remarks by Burundi's Ambassador to Belgium, Thérence Ntahiraja, have drawn attention in the context of these developments. Responding to questions regarding allegations of plans aimed at changing Rwanda's leadership, the diplomat argued that concerns over Rwanda's role in regional instability could provoke reactions from neighboring countries.
Ntahiraja also stated that Rwandan refugees who fled the country in the 1990s should eventually be able to return, remarks that have generated discussion among political observers in the region.
Separate reports allege that Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other international actors have been engaged in discussions concerning regional security arrangements. These claims have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, recently rejected allegations that Belgium had supplied military equipment to Burundi for use against Rwanda. Nevertheless, reports circulating within the region continue to claim that Burundi has received military hardware, including drones and artillery systems.
Sources also claim that Jean-Luc Habyarimana has made several trips between Kinshasa and Bujumbura since April. According to the same reports, he was recently in Burundi accompanied by Lt. Gen. Jacques Kyalingonza Nduru, head of military intelligence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
