The Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi have agreed to accelerate defense cooperation after a ministerial meeting in Bujumbura, where officials reviewed border security and regional threats.

DRC Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita met Burundi’s Defense Minister Chantal Nijimbere to assess existing military cooperation and speed up implementation of the bilateral defense agreement signed on March 6, 2023.

The talks focused on security challenges along the shared border and mechanisms for stronger coordination between Kinshasa and Bujumbura. Both sides also validated an experts’ report before signing a final communiqué.

The meeting comes as eastern DRC remains affected by armed-group activity and cross-border security pressures, including instability near South Kivu and areas close to Burundi’s frontier, a concern also reflected in recent regional humanitarian reporting by the European Commission.

During his stay, Kabombo also visited Congolese soldiers wounded at the front and hospitalized in Bujumbura, where he delivered support on behalf of the Congolese government.