During a meeting with diplomats and consular representatives in Burundi on January 31, President Évariste Ndayishimiye shared his concerns about security issues in East Africa. He criticized Rwanda for contributing to regional instability, accusing the country of training and arming Burundian refugees in the conflict affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ndayishimiye warned that if Rwanda continued expanding its influence, Burundi could also be affected. However, he assured that his country would not allow itself to be dragged into a larger war.

He emphasized that insecurity in the eastern DRC had effects beyond the immediate neighbors, affecting the whole region, including Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

Ndayishimiye also urged the international community to intervene and prevent the crisis from escalating further. He criticized the lack of action, warning that the situation could worsen if nothing was done.

Relations between Burundi and Rwanda have been tense for some time. In January 2024, Burundi closed its land borders with Rwanda, accusing the government of President Paul Kagame of supporting the RED-Tabara rebel group, which operates in the eastern DRC. Rwanda has repeatedly denied these claims. Despite efforts in recent years to improve diplomatic ties, mutual suspicion between the two countries remains strong.

Burundi is actively involved in supporting the DRC against armed groups and firmly opposes any form of assistance to rebel movements. The security crisis in the DRC is not just a problem for neighboring nations but also affects countries farther away, such as South Africa.

Ndayishimiye pointed out that South African forces, deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC, were also suffering from the conflict.

He warned that if there was no coordinated response, each nation would eventually face the consequences of the ongoing crisis on its own. As tensions in the Great Lakes region persist, Burundi remains alert to threats near its borders.