Clashes occurred in Kibira, Burundi, between FDNB and FDLR from March 11-13, triggered by food procurement attempts by FDLR. The Burundian military’s stance towards the FDLR appears to be changing, focusing now on expelling them back to DR Congo. The FDLR, connected to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, has a contentious relationship with both Rwanda and Burundi, amid ongoing diplomatic normalization efforts.
Recent clashes have occurred between the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and the Imbonerakure militia in Kibira, located in the Bukinanyana Commune of north-western Burundi. Reports indicate that these conflicts transpired from March 11 to March 13, ignited by the FDLR’s efforts to acquire food from the local populace in Butahana, where certain governmental and military officials are allegedly sheltering and supplying the militia with provisions and weapons.
Sources suggest that the Burundian military may be altering its position regarding the FDLR, which is infamously tied to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The FDNB appears to be working towards expelling the FDLR from Burundian territory back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Additionally, many Burundian forces have previously fought alongside the FDLR as part of a coalition with the Congolese government against the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo.
The FDLR, classified as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, was established by individuals connected to the 1994 genocide. For an extended duration, this group has collaborated with Burundian forces and Congolese government troops in eastern DR Congo, a situation that has raised alarms in Rwanda, which views it as a threat to regional stability. This period of unrest coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between Rwanda and Burundi, strained by Burundi’s support for regime change threats in DR Congo, which have historically targeted Rwanda and included attacks from the FDLR over the past two decades.
In summary, the recent clashes in Kibira between Burundian defense forces and the FDLR represent a significant shift in the military’s relations with the militia, historically linked to atrocities in Rwanda. As diplomatic tensions continue to ease between Rwanda and Burundi, this discord raises questions about the future stability of the region and the implications of Burundian military actions against groups such as the FDLR, which remain prominent threats.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
