Speaking on July 18, 2025, Kanyuka stated that despite ongoing political negotiations between the DRC government and other stakeholders in Qatar, military preparations are continuing on the ground with the help of foreign forces, notably Burundian troops.
He alleged that Burundi is once again engaging in hostile military activities in the region, disregarding past defeats.
“Burundi’s army is repeating the same mistakes as before. It has deployed a battalion of 520 soldiers through Nzibira toward Bukavu to reinforce its forces in the Rusizi Valley,” Kanyuka revealed.
He said this move is part of a broader military coalition mobilized by Kinshasa, which has positioned troops in key areas of South Kivu, while others are arriving from Pinga in Walikale, Lubero, and Kisangani in Tshopo Province to attack AFC/M23 positions.
“Many soldiers are moving from Kalemie to Uvira, and from Bujumbura to Shabunda and Kisangani. This week, their coalition launched intense assaults on our positions,” Kanyuka stated.
He emphasized that AFC/M23 retains the right to defend itself and protect civilians, vowing to neutralize any threats to the stability of areas under its control.
Kanyuka’s warning comes as UN experts, in a May 2025 report, confirmed the presence of 7,000 to 9,000 Burundian troops operating in the Rusizi Valley and near the Minembwe highlands in eastern DRC.
Meanwhile, Burundi’s Minister of Defense, Alain Tribert Mutabazi, speaking on July 15, insisted that his country’s forces are only present in eastern Congo to preserve peace, secure borders, and fight armed groups operating in North and South Kivu.
AFC/M23 sees these deployments as a direct provocation and a threat to the fragile stability of the region.
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