Authorities in Burundi’s Bujumbura Province have raised concerns over what they describe as provocative activities and suspicious movements along the country’s borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The warning was issued during a meeting involving Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca and local administrative officials in Mukaza commune. Bujumbura Governor Aloys Ndayikengurukiye said several recent incidents could pose a threat to Burundi’s territorial integrity and security.
According to Ndayikengurukiye, tensions have been particularly noticeable along sections of the Burundi-Rwanda border, where he said disputes over land between the two countries have been accompanied by what he described as deliberate provocations.
“Along the Burundi-Rwanda border, there have been acts of provocation in recent days, particularly in Mugina and Bukinanyana communes, involving crossings beyond the border,” Ndayikengurukiye said.
He said Burundian authorities had urged residents not to retaliate and had begun planting bamboo as a possible way of addressing the movement of land along the border.
“What is visible, however, is that on the other side there is behavior likely to provoke us,” the governor said.
Ndayikengurukiye also claimed that residents had been instructed to give way to military personnel after 3 p.m. to allow them to carry out work in the area. He presented the alleged activity as an additional reason for increased vigilance along the border.
Concerns over movements toward eastern DRC
The governor also expressed concern over what he described as suspicious movements of young people from Burundi into neighboring DRC.
He said some young people were allegedly crossing into the DRC clandestinely, raising suspicions that they could be seeking to support rebel movements operating in the country.
“There is a need for very high vigilance, since ‘infiltration’ is also becoming an issue,” Ndayikengurukiye said, calling for strengthened security measures through local joint human-security committees.
Senate President Gervais Ndirakobuca urged residents and local authorities to remain particularly vigilant.
“Security comes first,” Ndirakobuca said.
He recalled the consequences experienced by Bujumbura Province during previous periods of insecurity, saying those experiences should serve as a lesson and leave no room for complacency.
“When it comes to security, political affiliations must be put aside. We must stand as one to safeguard security,” he said.
Border tensions with Rwanda
The renewed focus on security along Burundi’s western borders comes after a video circulated on social media the previous week showing what appeared to be Rwandan troops deployed on the Rwandan side of the border, close to Burundian territory. The reported presence of the troops in the area, which some observers described as unusual, sparked speculation that Rwanda could be preparing to enter Burundian territory through Butanyerera Province in northern Burundi, raising concerns among residents in the area.
Our newspaper could not independently verify the authenticity of the video or determine when or where it was recorded.
Burundian authorities have not publicly confirmed or denied the reports or provided an official explanation regarding the military presence shown in the video.
Relations between Burundi and Rwanda have remained strained since 2015, when Burundi accused Rwanda of hosting individuals linked to the failed coup attempt that year and of supporting efforts to destabilize Burundi. Rwandan authorities have consistently denied the accusations.
Amid the continuing tensions, Burundi has closed its land borders with Rwanda.
Territorial concerns along shared rivers
The latest security concerns also follow warnings issued by Bujumbura provincial authorities earlier in August.
In a correspondence addressed to administrators of communes bordering Rwanda and the DRC, provincial officials reportedly raised concerns about Burundian territory being gradually shifted toward the neighboring countries through rivers that form parts of the borders.
The authorities attributed the changes to human activities affecting riverbanks and waterways.
The combination of territorial concerns, reported cross-border movements and longstanding political tensions has prompted Bujumbura officials to call for increased vigilance in communities along Burundi’s western borders.
