Burundi Masses Troops and Heavy Weapons Near Rwandan Border as Regional Tensions Escalate

15 December 2025 - Burundi has been deploying large numbers of troops and heavy weapons near its border with Rwanda for several days, amid rising tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The military buildup comes as the Burundian government faces mounting pressure following setbacks in South Kivu Province, where Burundian forces, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army, Wazalendo militias, and the FDLR, lost control of significant parts of the Rusizi Valley to AFC/M23 fighters.

Speaking recently before the United Nations Security Council, Burundi’s Ambassador Zéphyrin Maniratanga accused Rwanda of supporting the AFC/M23, arguing that such backing justifies Burundi’s security posture and confrontation with the armed group.

A senior Burundian military official, speaking to SOS Médias, confirmed that substantial deployments have been made, particularly in Busoni commune, Butanyerera province, close to the Gasenyi-Nemba border with Rwanda.

“There are heavy weapons deployed to prevent anything from coming from Rwanda,” the officer said.

In Busoni, police trucks have reportedly been transporting additional troops to military camps, including the 411th battalion base in Mutwenzi, according to local media sources.

Security patrols have intensified across parts of northern Burundi near the Rwandan border. Police units and members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing affiliated with the ruling CNDD-FDD party, have been seen conducting night patrols.

While no official announcements have been made instructing residents to limit their movements, locals say informal restrictions are being enforced. Civilians are reportedly expected to return home early, with roads effectively deserted after 8 p.m.

“They are ordered to return home early, before 8 p.m.,” said a resident of the Munzenze area. “It is not written anywhere, but we all know what it means.”

Residents living near the border say fear is growing as rumors of a possible war between Burundi and Rwanda circulate.

“We sleep in our clothes, ready to flee when they shoot,” another resident said.

In Bujumbura Province, formerly Cibitoke, security measures have also been reinforced. Heavy weapons stationed in the area have been used to shell the Kamanyola Center, near the Bugarama border with Rwanda.

The Burundian army’s shelling of Kamanyola reportedly triggered a swift response from AFC/M23 fighters, who then launched operations that enabled them to seize parts of the Rusizi Valley and advance as far as Uvira, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

According to reliable sources, Burundi has been acquiring significant quantities of heavy weapons and combat drones for some time, suggesting preparations for a large-scale conflict. Some of this equipment has already been used in the fighting in South Kivu.

In the past two weeks, at least 30 trucks loaded with weapons reportedly entered the Mukoni military base in Buhumuza Province, underscoring the scale of Burundi’s ongoing military buildup.

As regional tensions intensify, the concentration of forces along the Burundi-Rwanda border has heightened fears of a broader confrontation, with civilians increasingly caught in the shadow of a potential cross-border conflict.