Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has revealed fresh details about mounting security tensions in the Great Lakes region, accusing Burundi of secretly deploying troops near Rwanda’s northwestern border while repeatedly denying their presence. The disclosure has added a new layer of strain to already fragile regional relations and raised concerns over escalating military coordination among Rwanda’s neighbors.
President Kagame made the remarks on December 11, 2025, during a public address in which he responded to what he described as a growing wave of false accusations, hostile rhetoric, and destabilizing actions targeting Rwanda. He warned that regional instability is no longer driven only by historical grievances but is being intensified by deliberate political and military maneuvers from neighboring states.
According to Kagame, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye personally misled him regarding the presence of Burundian forces operating close to Rwanda’s border. Kagame said he raised concerns directly with his counterpart after receiving intelligence indicating that Burundian troops had moved into northern zones of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, areas geographically adjacent to Rwanda.
Burundi initially deployed forces to eastern Congo in 2022 under the framework of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), which was established following a Nairobi summit aimed at stabilizing the volatile region. While the deployment was originally justified as a collective regional security effort, the situation shifted when the Congolese government later ordered all EAC forces to withdraw.
Unlike other EAC member states that complied with the withdrawal directive, Burundi continued reinforcing its presence inside the DRC. Kagame explained that when he questioned President Ndayishimiye about this continued deployment, the Burundian leader claimed his country was assisting a friendly government and addressing threats posed to Burundi from the southern regions of eastern Congo.
At the time, Burundi’s justification centered on insecurity emanating from areas such as Minembwe and Uvira in South Kivu. Kagame said Rwanda initially viewed this explanation as geographically consistent, given Burundi’s proximity to those regions. However, the situation took a more alarming turn when Burundian troops were reportedly spotted massing in northern areas closer to Rwanda’s border.
Kagame said he again confronted Ndayishimiye over these developments, seeking clarification about why Burundian soldiers were operating far from the zones they had claimed to be securing. According to Kagame, Ndayishimiye categorically denied the presence of any Burundian troops in those northern areas and dismissed the intelligence reports as false.
“I asked him why Burundian troops were gathering in the north near Rwanda’s border,” Kagame recounted. “He told me, ‘Who told you we have troops there? That person lied to you.’ I explained that I had proof, but I still wanted to hear it from him directly. He insisted Burundi had no troops there.”
Only days later, Kagame said, Burundian soldiers were captured during heavy fighting in precisely those areas where Burundi had denied any presence. The incident, he noted, not only contradicted official statements from Bujumbura but also raised serious questions about transparency, trust, and intent.
Rwanda further challenged Burundi during subsequent meetings between the two countries’ security officials, questioning how Burundi could distance itself from its own troops after they had been captured in combat zones it had previously claimed to have no forces in. Kagame described Burundi’s position as contradictory and deeply troubling for regional confidence-building efforts.
These revelations come amid a broader deterioration of the security situation in eastern Congo. After EAC troops were ordered out in late 2023, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed its own military force to support the Congolese army. However, the mission struggled to contain the insurgency led by the M23 movement.
By early 2025, M23 fighters had captured key strategic cities, including Bukavu and later Goma, delivering significant blows to Congolese and allied forces. The advances forced SADC troops to retreat, with some units exiting through Rwanda as they withdrew from the conflict zone.
The military setbacks prompted a reassessment of strategy among regional leaders. During a special summit held in February 2025, both SADC and EAC heads of state concluded that a purely military approach was unsustainable and that political dialogue offered the only viable path toward lasting peace in eastern Congo. A month later, SADC formally disbanded its mission.
Against this backdrop, Kagame warned that the region remains dangerously volatile, fueled not only by armed groups but also by inflammatory political rhetoric. He highlighted repeated public statements by senior leaders in both Burundi and the DRC claiming they intended to attack Rwanda, overthrow its government, and symbolically “raise their flags in Kigali.”
Kagame said such language goes beyond political posturing and risks legitimizing aggression while deepening mistrust among neighboring states. He argued that these threats, combined with covert military deployments, undermine regional peace initiatives and complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.
Rwanda, Kagame stressed, has consistently advocated for dialogue and regional cooperation but cannot ignore actions that threaten its security. He reiterated that Rwanda has the capacity to defend itself if necessary, while maintaining that peace remains its preferred and primary objective.
The President also underscored that Rwanda’s concerns are rooted in verifiable actions rather than speculation. He noted that the capture of Burundian troops in contested areas confirmed intelligence warnings that had previously been dismissed or denied, reinforcing Rwanda’s call for honesty and accountability in regional engagements.
As tensions persist, Kagame urged regional and international partners to examine facts carefully rather than relying on politically motivated narratives. He emphasized that misrepresentation of events in the Great Lakes region only prolongs conflict and distracts from addressing the root causes of insecurity.
The revelations have further complicated Rwanda–Burundi relations at a time when regional diplomacy is already under strain. Analysts warn that without renewed trust, transparent communication, and firm commitment to political solutions, the Great Lakes region risks sliding into deeper instability.
For Rwanda, Kagame made clear, safeguarding national security and regional stability are inseparable goals. While the country remains open to cooperation, he cautioned that peace cannot be built on denial, deception, or double standards.
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