According to official Burundian services, at least 532 Congolese police officers have sought refuge in Burundi due to ongoing fighting between the M23 group and the Congolese army and its allies.

These officers, including two women and their four children, are being housed in central Burundi and are reported to have fled with their weapons. Additionally, another group of 250 Congolese soldiers, not officially recognized, have been gathered in Cibitoke province in the northwest of the country.

By Wednesday evening, the Burundian immigration services had recorded the presence of 532 Congolese police officers. An officer from the Burundian National Police (PNB), connected to the Interior Ministry, stated that the officers have been separated from civilian refugees and moved to a center in Muramvya province.

Maurice Mbonimpa, the General Commissioner for Migration, confirmed these figures Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, Martin Niteretse, Burundi’s Interior Minister, had mentioned a smaller number of Congolese police already received by the country.

A local resident of Muramvya center reported seeing police trucks delivering Congolese officers to the royal stadium. This was verified by a police source connected to the Burundian police’s General Inspection. Another Muramvya resident claimed that the provincial governor took bread and donuts from local bakeries to feed the Congolese officers.

In Cibitoke, a military camp under the 112th infantry battalion has taken in 250 Congolese soldiers since February 18. These troops crossed the Rusizi River, which separates the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Burundi, arriving through villages like Kaburantwa, Rusiga, and Rukana. A military source in the area, speaking anonymously, confirmed these arrivals to SOS Médias Burundi.

Despite the presence of these soldiers, Burundian authorities have not made any official statement about their situation. Burundi’s army (FDNB) had previously sent thousands of troops into Congo as part of a bilateral agreement between the two governments.

However, after significant territorial gains by the M23 group, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu, Burundi began withdrawing its forces. By February 18, SOS Médias Burundi reported that at least 359 Burundian soldiers had returned, accompanied by members of the Congolese army (FARDC).

On February 18, Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, a spokesperson for Burundi’s army, denied reports of a withdrawal. “The FDNB troops deployed in Congo continue to carry out their missions in their assigned sectors,” he stated. “No one should pay attention to fake news spread around.”

Two local journalists confirmed to SOS Médias Burundi that they had seen a number of soldiers—some in military uniform, others in civilian clothing with muddy boots—walking through Cibitoke. This border region remains a key entry point for Congolese fleeing the conflict in eastern Congo.