Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza Denies Claims of Burundian Army captured by M23 in DRC

The Editorial Staff
January 16, 2025

Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, the spokesperson for the Burundian army, has strongly denied claims of significant losses among Burundian troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He dismissed these allegations as "propaganda manipulation" and insisted that no Burundian soldiers had been captured or killed by the M23 armed group in eastern DRC.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, January 16, General Baratuza rejected social media reports that suggested around 500 Burundian soldiers had died in the region. He described such reports as fabricated and misleading. According to him, photos circulating online of captured individuals in Burundian uniforms were false. "I have seen these images, but they do not depict our soldiers. I have worked with many young officers and I know them well. These individuals are not Burundians," he stated. Other soldiers also failed to recognize those in the images.
He further explained that the people in the images were soldiers from elsewhere disguised as Burundians. Their physical features and overall appearance did not match those of Burundian troops. General Baratuza emphasized that such misinformation was intended to weaken the morale of their forces and urged the public to be cautious about unverified news.
Regarding claims of Burundian soldiers being killed or captured, General Baratuza neither confirmed nor denied the reports. He maintained that details concerning casualties remained a military secret. He also criticized the spread of disturbing images online, calling them "Photoshop montages." He questioned the need to display such pictures if they were real, emphasizing that in case of genuine deaths, the affected families would be officially informed.
Addressing concerns about Burundian troops in Somalia, the spokesperson provided clarification on their participation in AUSSOM, a new African Union mission. He stated that Burundi would continue its role only if the AU accepted at least two infantry battalions and an aviation unit. He noted that Burundi was still waiting for the African Union's response after the Somali Minister of Defense indicated that Burundian troops would not be part of AUSSOM.
General Baratuza also dismissed rumors of a mutiny among Burundian soldiers deployed in the DRC. He clarified that such actions would be considered high treason and reiterated that these claims were false. He affirmed that Burundian troops in the DRC were conducting their mission professionally and were in good condition.
He stressed that the presence of Burundian forces in eastern DRC had significantly improved security in border areas shared with Burundi. By the end of 2024, there had been no reports of killings in these regions, which he attributed to Burundian military operations in Congolese territory.
In conclusion, General Baratuza reassured that the morale of Burundian troops remained high despite the misleading narratives being spread online. He reaffirmed that they were focused on restoring peace in eastern DRC and that reports of heavy losses were entirely false.