The Burundi Ministry of Defense has denied reports of heavy losses among its soldiers in recent clashes with M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The denial came in a statement from the ministry’s spokesman during a press conference this Thursday.
Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, the spokesman for the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB), condemned what he described as “false and hateful” reports circulating on social media and in some international media outlets.
“The FDNB strongly condemns the writers and propagators of these defamatory messages against our disciplined and valiant soldiers,” Baratuza said. “We also reject the fabricated casualty figures posted on social media.”
According to Baratuza, the reports of “probable heavy human and material losses” are intended to demoralize Burundian forces. He emphasized that soldiers deployed in the DRC are carrying out their mission with “seamless professionalism.”
The spokesman also criticized the dissemination of false photos and videos which he said was for ‘propaganda purposes’.
“On the battlefield, soldiers die. Opposing sides don’t exchange flowers, but gunfire. That’s the reality of war,” Baratuza said. He added that when soldiers are killed, their families are notified, and their bodies are repatriated for dignified funeral services, whether they fall in DRC, Somalia, or the Central African Republic.
Earlier, social media reports and some international outlets cited the M23 rebel group as claiming nearly 200 Burundian soldiers had been killed in recent fighting in North Kivu province.
The conflict involved the M23 rebels and the Congolese army (FARDC), which is supported by Burundian forces (FDNB) and local militias.
Burundi has deployed troops to eastern DRC since 2023 as part of bilateral and regional agreements between the governments of Burundi and the DRC.
Baratuza noted that in areas where Burundian forces are present, Congolese civilians are able to carry out their daily activities without disruption. However the army spokesman couldn’t reveal the number of casualties in the DRC operation indicating that the army cannot publicly announce the death of the soldiers but can only do so to their families.
“Those who deliver such reports have an intention to distract the Burundian soldiers,” he added.
Tension in the East African Community has continued to grow as relations between neighboring countries have continued to deteriorate. DRC accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group that have destabilised the eastern part of the country resulting to hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. Allegations that Rwanda has denied.
On the other hand Burundi closed its borders with neighboring Rwanda after dozens of people were killed by an armed group from DRC which Burundi believes was supported by Rwanda, Kigali in return accuses Burundi of supporting the FDLR rebels in DRC who are accused of committing the 1994 in Rwanda.
