
Sources in Cibitoke province claims that heavily armed men in military and police uniforms have been reported in the Kibira nature reserve on the Mabayi and Bukinanyana sides since January 15, 2024.
The movements of armed men entering the Kibira forest have intensified in recent days. This situation is worrying the inhabitants of the various communes in Cibitoke province, who spend their nights hiding in the bush. They fear clashes, as there has been a systematic increase in the number of elements of the forces of law and order.
Residents of the Buganda, Rugombo, Mugina, Mabayi and Bukinanyana communes, adjacent to the Kibira forest and those near the Rusizi and Ruhwa rivers, are no longer sleeping in their households. Some go into hiding in the bush, while those who remain in their homes spend sleepless nights.
These people say they fear “likely clashes as a result of armed groups constantly infiltrating the Kibira”. The build-up of military forces in the town of Cibitoke, on the Rusizi and Ruhwa rivers and in the Kibira forest is not helping to calm these people either.
Sources in Cibitoke province claims that heavily armed men in military and police uniforms have been reported in the Kibira nature reserve on the Mabayi and Bukinanyana sides since January 15. These men are entering Kibira from the Ruhembe hill in the Bumba zone in Commune Bukinanyana, and from the Rutorero and Gafumbegeti hills in the Butahana zone in Commune Mabayi, our sources report.
One of the security forces indicated that “reinforcing security in this province is part of their mission to defend the country’s borders”. Some of the soldiers are camping and keeping watch day and night on all the river bridges on Route Nationale number 5 (RN5).
On the bridges over the Nyamagana, Muhira, Kaburantwa and Kajeke rivers, security on these bridges has been very tight, both during the day and in the night.
We were unable to obtain reactions from Colonel Floribert Biyereke, spokesman for the Burundian army, and Carême Bizoza, Governor of Cibitoke province.