Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has publicly distanced himself from comments made by his foreign minister accusing Qatar of obstructing U.S. efforts to restore peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The clarification followed a now-deleted post published on 3 January 2026 by Foreign Minister Édouard Bizimana on X, in which he alleged that Qatar was using its influence and financial power to prevent the United States from taking action to address insecurity in eastern DRC.
Bizimana claimed that despite appeals to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, armed groups continued to seize territory in violation of the Washington agreements, blaming Qatar for blocking American intervention. The remarks drew criticism and were later removed.
In response, President Ndayishimiye issued a statement on his own X account, emphasizing Burundi’s appreciation of Qatar’s role in regional diplomacy. He said Burundi “has always valued its long-standing friendly relations with Qatar” and praised Doha’s “significant contribution to mediation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The president added that it was necessary to correct “misunderstandings and inappropriate statements” regarding Qatar’s involvement in peacebuilding and development.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, who plays a key role in Qatar-led mediation talks, welcomed Ndayishimiye’s remarks, reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to peace, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Burundi has been closely involved in efforts related to the conflict in eastern DRC. President Ndayishimiye attended the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC as a witness, and Burundi has deployed more than 2,000 troops to support Congolese government forces against the M23 rebel group.
The Burundian deployment, however, has also faced allegations of abuses against Kinyarwanda-speaking civilians.
