The AFC/M23 rebel group fighting the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that it will treat Burundian soldiers it captured on the battlefield in South Kivu province until they return home.
This was announced by the AFC/M23 Deputy Director for Political Affairs, Democracy and Governance, Bertrand Bisimwa, at a press conference in Goma on December 9, 2025.
He said, “Even Burundian soldiers captured on the battlefield will be treated in a way that teaches them that this conflict is a Congolese issue that they should not interfere in. We will work to ensure that they return to their country peacefully.”
Bisimwa said that President Félix Tshisekedi brought Burundi into the conflict to target AFC/M23 fighters, who will respond, and the war will spread throughout the region.
He asked Burundi to withdraw its troops from DRC territory because AFC/M23 has no plans to launch attacks, even though it has been provoking them for a long time.
He said, “We asked Burundi to withdraw its troops from DRC territory because we have no plans to attack Burundi or its troops, even though they have blocked the roads in the highlands of Minembwe, where many ethnic groups live, especially the Banyamulenge.”
AFC/M23 has been wresting large parts of South Kivu from Burundian, DRC, Wazalendo and FDLR forces for days. On December 9, it captured the Kiliba center, located about 20 kilometers from the city of Uvira.
