Burundi: 21 Soldiers Transferred After DRC Deployment Refusal

• Twenty-one Burundian soldiers were transferred from Murembwe Central Prison to an unknown destination on October 22, 2026.
• These soldiers were facing charges of desertion and abandoning their posts for refusing deployment to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Their transfer occurred while they awaited a judicial decision from a military court regarding their detention.
• Burundian forces in eastern DRC are reportedly suffering heavy losses and difficult combat conditions against well-equipped rebels.
• Hundreds of other Burundian soldiers have previously received lengthy prison sentences for similar refusals to deploy to the DRC.

The undisclosed transfer of these soldiers underscores the opaque nature of military justice processes for those refusing deployment to the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

On October 22, 2026, twenty-one Burundian soldiers, previously held at Murembwe Central Prison in Rumonge, Burunga Province, southwestern Burundi, were moved to an unknown location. These individuals had been detained for approximately two months, facing charges of desertion and abandoning their posts after allegedly refusing orders to deploy to the front lines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The soldiers had appeared before a military court and were awaiting a judicial decision regarding their potential provisional release or continued detention at the time of their transfer. According to reports, neither their destination nor the reasons for their relocation were communicated to them. One soldier from the original group of twenty-two remained at Murembwe, reportedly facing charges related to the armed theft of a mattress.

The transfer of these 21 Burundi soldiers highlights ongoing issues within the military justice system concerning FDNB soldiers DRC deployment. The charges of desertion stem directly from their alleged refusal to join combat operations in South Kivu, eastern DRC. This incident is not isolated, as Murembwe Central Prison, which houses over 1,000 inmates, has seen numerous similar cases.

Since late December 2024, 272 other soldiers have received sentences ranging from four years to life imprisonment at Murembwe for refusing to participate in the conflict in eastern DRC. These prior convictions, handed down by the military court, underscore a pattern of severe penalties for Burundi military desertion charges related to the DRC mission, where Burundian forces are expected to fight alongside the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and Wazalendo militias against various rebel groups.

The deployment of Burundian troops to eastern DRC occurs amid a highly volatile security situation. Burundian National Defense Force (FDNB) soldiers are engaged in combat alongside Congolese government forces and their allies, including the Kinshasa-backed Wazalendo militias, against rebels of the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN). This group, which announced its transformation on October 12, 2026, was previously known as the AFC/M23 coalition.

Reports indicate that the Burundian army has sustained significant losses in recent weeks, following several months of advances in the highlands of South Kivu. Soldiers on the ground reportedly face difficult conditions and a lack of adequate equipment, contending with rebels described as well-organized and better equipped. The region also sees the presence of other armed groups, such as the Burundian Red-Tabara. Witnesses have described repatriated Burundian soldiers arriving from the DRC visibly exhausted and with worn uniforms, having gone days without supplies. Furthermore, Burundian soldiers suspected of collaborating with Rwanda or rebels are reportedly being arrested in humiliating circumstances by Congolese allied militias, with two Burundian officers currently detained on suspicion of leaking intelligence, a fact confirmed by FDNB spokesperson Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza on September 29. Between August 2022 and December 2025, Burundi deployed more than 29,000 troops to eastern DRC.

The military involvement in eastern DRC is set against a backdrop of complex regional geopolitical tensions. Both Kinshasa and Gitega accuse Kigali of providing support to rebel groups in the area, an allegation that Rwanda consistently denies. Conversely, Rwanda has accused the DRC and Burundi of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan Hutu armed group, some of whose members are implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

The undisclosed transfer of these soldiers underscores the opaque nature of military justice processes for those refusing deployment to the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The precise reasons for the deployment of these specific 21 soldiers, and their ultimate destination, remain unknown, adding to the uncertainty surrounding their legal and personal safety.

Lawyers specializing in military law or human rights should monitor the legal proceedings and conditions of detention for Burundian soldiers accused of desertion, particularly concerning due process, the legality of transfers to unknown destinations, and potential defenses related to deployment conditions in the DRC.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi