Burundi: Kirundo doctor faces M23 collaboration allegations

A doctor at Kirundo Hospital in northern Burundi has received death threats after being accused without publicly presented evidence of collaborating with the M23 armed group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to multiple sources cited by rpa.

The report identifies the doctor as Dr. John Rukozangabo, a physician at Kirundo Hospital. A source described as being within the ruling CNDD-FDD in Kirundo claimed the doctor’s life is “in danger” unless action is taken, alleging that some party supporters have issued threats against him.

The same source said the accusations were discussed at a meeting on Saturday, January 24, held at the CNDD-FDD headquarters in Ngozi (Butanyerera province). According to the report, attendees included party members from Kirundo as well as local security-linked figures described as the regional police chief, the head of intelligence services, and a leader from the Imbonerakure, the party’s youth wing.

No official statement is cited in the article from the government, police, intelligence services, CNDD-FDD leadership, or the doctor himself. The accusations remain unverified allegations as presented.

Why M23 allegations are politically combustible in Burundi.

Burundi sits on the front line of the eastern DRC conflict’s regional fallout through displacement, border security tensions, and political suspicion, especially when M23 activity intensifies near South Kivu and North Kivu.

International reporting and UN-linked assessments have repeatedly described M23 as receiving support from Rwanda an allegation Rwanda denies.  In that environment, “collaboration” claims can quickly become both a security matter and a political weapon particularly when accusations circulate through party structures or informal networks.

A professional profile that raises the stakes locally

The report notes that Dr. Rukozangabo became widely known locally in 2022, when Kirundo Hospital reportedly went without doctors for three months and he was left to care for patients across multiple departments.

It also says that after his appointment in September 2025 as head of the public health department in the expanded Kirundo commune, he began receiving threats from people who questioned his suitability for the role. More recently, the report alleges he has also been threatened by some National Assembly members without naming individuals or detailing the nature of the threats.

A quick caution for readers:

UN frequently describes M23 as Rwanda-backed and portrays the group’s operations as a cross-border destabilising force a framing that aligns with many international reports, but still sits within a contested regional narrative where parties dispute responsibility and motives. That means allegations sourced to security or ruling-party circles should be read carefully, especially when evidence is not presented publicly.

What to watch next

If the threats are real and escalating, the most immediate public-interest questions are straightforward:

• Is there a formal investigation into the allegations and if so, what evidence is being relied upon?

• Will authorities provide protection to the accused individual while claims are assessed?

• Will CNDD-FDD or security agencies publicly clarify whether the alleged January 24 meeting occurred and what decisions (if any) were taken?

Until those questions are answered on the record, the case remains a high-risk example of how the eastern DRC conflict can spill into neighboring countries through suspicion, intimidation, and allegations that may be difficult to independently verify.

source: rpa