Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye denied to President Paul Kagame that Burundian troops were operating in Goma and Rutshuru in North Kivu, despite regional reports placing Burundian forces in those areas, according to Kagame’s remarks made on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Kagame revealed details of the conversation while speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new government officials, where he addressed escalating tensions and misinformation surrounding military movements in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
For months, Rwanda has faced accusations of deploying troops to Goma—claims Kagame firmly rejected during his speech. He insisted that Rwanda withdrew its forces from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) mission, while Burundi maintained its deployments in the region.
Providing previously undisclosed details, Kagame recounted phoning President Ndayishimiye to seek clarity about Burundian military activities after widespread reports indicated Burundian soldiers had moved beyond Uvira and Minembwe.
Kagame said he asked his Burundian counterpart directly:
“In the North, what are you going to do there? In Goma and Rutshuru, what are your forces doing there?”
According to Kagame, Ndayishimiye categorically denied the presence of Burundian troops in those zones, insisting that the information Kagame had received was false.
However, Kagame told the audience that Burundian soldiers later appeared in parts of Goma and Rutshuru, contradicting Ndayishimiye’s assurances.
Context: Rising accusations and strained regional relations
The exchange comes amid renewed fighting in South Kivu, where the armed coalition AFC/M23 recently seized Uvira, prompting heightened military activity and diplomatic tension across the region.
Kagame criticized international actors for amplifying accusations against Rwanda while ignoring the roles of other countries in the conflict.
He emphasized that efforts to impose external narratives on Rwanda undermine regional problem-solving, saying no nation can “fix another country’s problems while neglecting its own responsibilities.”
Rwanda’s view of the crisis
Rwanda maintains that the DRC collaborates with FDLR remnants and Burundian forces targeting Rwandan security, even as Kinshasa continues accusing Kigali of backing AFC/M23. Kagame reiterated that Rwanda remains committed to safeguarding its sovereignty and regional stability, while urging neighbouring states to address their internal issues directly.
