Burundi's Ndayishimiye Visits Kinshasa as Fighting Intensifies Around Minembwe

Kinshasa, June 19, 2026 - Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye is expected to begin a two-day official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he will hold talks with President Félix Tshisekedi on regional security and other bilateral issues amid renewed fighting in South Kivu.

According to the Congolese presidency, Tshisekedi will receive Ndayishimiye at N'Djili International Airport before the two leaders hold private discussions followed by a joint press briefing.

The agenda is expected to include the security situation in eastern DRC, where Congolese and Burundian forces are conducting military operations against several armed groups, as well as cooperation on efforts to combat Ebola.

Burundian troops have been deployed in eastern DRC under a bilateral military cooperation agreement signed in 2022 to support Congolese forces in operations against armed groups.

The visit comes as fighting continues in and around Minembwe, where Congolese and Burundian forces are engaged in operations against the MRDP-Twirwaneho armed group.

Earlier this month, President Tshisekedi said government forces were making progress in military operations in the area and expressed confidence that they would continue advancing in eastern DRC.

The Congolese army later announced that it had taken control of Minembwe. However, the MRDP-Twirwaneho movement rejected the claim, insisting that it remained in control of the area.

MRDP-Twirwaneho president Dr. Freddy Kaniki said government forces had failed to capture Minembwe and maintained that the group continued to hold its positions.