The M23 rebel group says it has captured hundreds of Burundian soldiers during its latest offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, claims that could not be independently verified.
The alleged capture follows M23’s entry last week into the strategic town of Uvira, located near the border with Burundi. The advance comes less than a week after the presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda met in Washington with US President Donald Trump, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a peace framework known as the Washington Accords.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rwanda of violating the Washington Accords through its actions in eastern DR Congo and said Washington would “take action to ensure promises made to the president are kept.”
Rwanda, which has repeatedly been accused of backing M23, denies supporting the group and instead blames Congolese and Burundian forces for the renewed fighting.
In a statement, M23 said the “captured Burundian soldiers” would be escorted “home.” Burundi has not issued an immediate response, though President Evariste Ndayishimiye has previously warned M23 against launching attacks on Burundian forces, cautioning that such actions could spark a wider conflict.
Burundi has maintained troops in eastern DR Congo for several years as part of regional security efforts. Meanwhile, M23 has staged a rapid offensive since January, seizing the region’s two largest cities in fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Eastern DR Congo is rich in minerals, supplying around 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt, along with significant quantities of tin, tantalum and tungsten.
A local official appointed by the government in Kinshasa said on Monday that Congolese troops and allied forces have withdrawn from Makobola, about 12 kilometres south of Uvira, to reorganise for a counteroffensive. A source within M23, however, said the rebels are currently in control of the area.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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