The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group says it has taken hundreds of Burundian soldiers prisoner during its latest military push in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as clashes intensify despite renewed international pressure for de-escalation.
Patrick Busu Bwa Ngwi, the M23-appointed governor of South Kivu, told reporters on Saturday that rebel forces captured the Burundian troops during recent fighting and intend to repatriate them. He said Burundi should submit an official request for their return and called on all Burundian forces to leave Congolese territory peacefully.
There was no immediate response from the Burundian government, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for several years as part of regional security operations against armed groups.
Renewed offensive near Burundi border
The claim comes days after M23 fighters entered Uvira, a strategically important town near the Burundi border on Lake Tanganyika. The advance followed a high-profile meeting in Washington between the presidents of Congo and Rwanda and U.S. President Donald Trump, where the leaders reaffirmed support for a proposed peace framework known as the Washington Accords.
Despite those commitments, fighting has continued. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rwanda of violating the accords through its actions in eastern Congo and said Washington would take steps to ensure promises made to President Trump were honoured.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing M23, instead accusing Congolese and Burundian forces of provoking renewed hostilities. However, a United Nations experts’ report published in July said Rwanda exercised command and control over the rebel movement.
M23 launched a rapid offensive in January, overrunning eastern Congo’s two largest cities in fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Since then, the group has moved to establish a parallel civilian and security administration, raising fears of a long-term fragmentation of the country.
Eastern Congo sits at the heart of a region rich in strategic minerals. The DRC supplies roughly 70% of the world’s cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, alongside major deposits of tin, tantalum and tungsten. U.S. officials have indicated that a durable peace could open the door to increased Western investment in the region’s mining sector.
Threats to expand fighting
Busu Bwa Ngwi warned that M23 would not hesitate to push further south into Katanga province, which hosts vast cobalt and copper reserves, claiming the move would be aimed at stopping alleged abuses against civilians by Congolese forces.
A government-appointed local official told Reuters on Monday that Congolese troops and allied forces had withdrawn from Makobola, about 12 kilometres south of Uvira, to regroup and plan counteroffensives. An M23 source separately said the rebels were now present in the town.
The deteriorating security situation has also affected humanitarian operations. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said on Friday it had suspended activities in Baraka, around 100 kilometres south of Uvira, citing escalating violence and direct threats linked to the conflict.
The developments underscore the fragility of diplomatic efforts to stabilise eastern Congo, where regional rivalries, armed groups and competition over mineral wealth continue to fuel one of Africa’s most protracted crises.
Source:Africa Publicity
