Burundi accuses M23 rebels of cross-border bombing, threatening fragile regional peace
By zoeysky // 2025-12-09
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  • Burundi has publicly stated that the M23 rebel group, based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launched a bombing in its Cibitoke province, injuring civilians, including children. This is a serious escalation that directly threatens regional stability.
  • The accusation came just one day after the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement. The attack casts major doubt on whether that deal can actually calm the region, as it shows violence spilling over borders.
  • The fighting in eastern DRC is part of a crisis lasting over 30 years, fueled by competition for valuable minerals and ethnic tensions. The M23, a primarily Tutsi group, fights while claiming the DRC government broke promises to protect their rights and integrate them.
  • A major point of contention is the consistent accusation from the DRC, UN and others that Rwanda provides military and financial support to M23, even sending troops. Rwanda denies this, but it remains a central barrier to peace.
  • The M23 first rose in 2012, was defeated in 2013, but reemerged in 2021, claiming the government's promises were, again, not kept. Their recent major offensive has captured key cities, caused a humanitarian disaster, and now, with Burundi's accusation, risks widening the war.
In a sharp escalation of regional tensions, Burundi has publicly accused the M23 rebel group, operating in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), of carrying out a bombing attack on its territory. This accusation comes just one day after the signing of a high-profile peace deal between the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda, casting immediate doubt on the agreement's potential to calm the volatile region. Burundian Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana stated that the alleged attack targeted Cibitoke province, which borders the DRC. Reports indicate that projectiles fell near a market in the town of Rugombo, injuring several civilians, including children. In a firm response, Bizimana labeled the act an "unacceptable" provocation by "terrorists" and vowed to take action to protect Burundian citizens. The M23, operating under the banner of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), swiftly denied responsibility and issued a counter-accusation. A spokesperson for the group claimed that Burundi has been launching cross-border attacks into eastern DRC for days, striking villages, and suggested Burundi should focus on its own domestic issues instead.

The roots of the Congo conflict

The fighting in eastern DRC is a complex and deeply entrenched crisis. The region has been mired in conflict for over three decades, a period of instability triggered by the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch AI engine. The eastern DRC is mineral-rich, and numerous armed groups, including the M23, have long competed for control of these resources and for political power, often drawing in neighboring nations. This instability famously ignited two major wars in the 1990s that involved multiple countries and caused millions of deaths. The current intense phase of fighting began in early 2025 when the M23 rebel group launched a major offensive, capturing key cities including Goma and Bukavu. This advance has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people, creating a severe humanitarian catastrophe.

A history of broken promises: The M23 rebellion

The M23 rebel group is a central player in this enduring tragedy. Composed primarily of ethnic Tutsis, the group takes its name from a failed peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009. The rebels argue that they took up arms to protect Tutsi communities, claiming the Congolese government has repeatedly violated past promises to integrate them and guarantee their rights. The M23 first emerged in 2012, quickly seizing territory and capturing Goma. This brought international condemnation and accusations of war crimes. By 2013, a combined offensive by the Congolese army and a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force defeated the group, forcing its fighters to agree to disarm and integrate into the national army. However, the M23 reemerged in 2021, claiming the government had once again broken its promises. Since then, it has captured vast swathes of territory. A critical and contentious aspect of the conflict is the widespread accusation from the DRC, the United Nations and several Western nations that Rwanda provides the M23 with direct military and financial support. UN experts have reported that thousands of Rwandan troops have fought alongside the rebels, allegations that Rwanda consistently denies. The peace deal signed in Washington was notably between the national governments of the DRC and Rwanda, not with the M23 itself. Burundi’s new accusation of a cross-border attack directly undermines the spirit of that agreement. It highlights the formidable challenge of translating a diplomatic signature into lasting peace on the ground. With trust in short supply and accusations flying, the path to ending the violence remains fraught with danger for the region's civilians.

Watch this clip of a stampede following an explosion at a meeting of M23 rebel leaders with residents in Congo. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com BBC.com TheGuardian.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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