Burundi’s President and Chairperson of the African Union, Évariste Ndayishimiye, returned to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on August 20, 2026, less than two months after his previous visit to the country.
The visit follows Ndayishimiye’s June 22–23, 2026 trip to Kinshasa, where he was received by President Félix Tshisekedi. At the time, the two leaders discussed security in eastern DRC and cooperation between the two countries.
The Burundi presidency said Ndayishimiye travelled to Kinshasa on August 20 at the invitation of his counterpart, President Tshisekedi.
Although the full agenda for Ndayishimiye’s latest visit has not yet been announced, it comes as Burundi and the DRC continue their military cooperation, particularly in the conflict in eastern DRC.
Burundian troops have for some time been fighting alongside the Congolese army, Wazalendo groups, the FDLR and foreign mercenaries in the conflict.
In early July 2026, the alliance launched attacks in the highlands, particularly in areas near the commune of Minembwe. The forces sought to dislodge AFC/M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho fighters from the area but were pushed back.
This places Ndayishimiye’s latest visit to Kinshasa in the context of the ongoing conflict, especially as it comes just days after Burundi’s Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Prime Niyongabo, left Kinshasa.
Gen. Niyongabo and six other senior military officers were in Kinshasa on August 6 and 7, 2026. He held talks with Congolese military officials on bilateral military cooperation, with reports suggesting that they were preparing new operations against Minembwe.
During the same period, reports continued to indicate that the armed forces of the DRC and Burundi were reinforcing their troops and military equipment in the Fizi area. The forces have also been launching attacks in areas controlled by AFC/M23 in Kalehe and Walungu territories.
Other reports said that on August 16, Burundian Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces, Maj. Gen. Elie Ndizigiye, also known as Muzinga, travelled to Fizi, where he met with Brig. Gen. Fabien Dunia Kashindi, commander of the DRC Army’s 33rd Military Region, to coordinate preparations for the fighting.
