Burundian forces stationed in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have established a new military base in Nyamara after vacating their previous positions in Gahuna, located on the Ndondo axis of Bijombo. The deployment forms part of Burundi’s continued collaboration with the DRC government in combating the coalition of armed groups operating under the name AFC/M23/MRDP–Twirwaneho, which seeks to challenge Kinshasa’s authority.

Information obtained on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and verified by Ukweli Times journalist , confirms that the Burundian troops have relocated their operations to Nyamara. The area lies a short distance from Kamombo Centre and near the well-known Bijabo Forest in Mulenge an expansive region of rolling hills used for cattle grazing and other local activities.

According to sources in the region, the new Burundian base has been set up near the site of a former Banyamulenge settlement that was destroyed during pro-government military offensives in 2023.

Eyewitnesses in Bijombo reported that the Burundian troops dismantled their former base in Gahuna, where they had dug extensive trench networks covering nearly the entire hill. Video footage from the area shows numerous trenches, highlighting the extent of their previous military fortifications.

The same hill was widely known among residents of Gahuna and Ndondo-Bijombo as a high point where locals could access mobile phone networks to communicate with relatives abroad. Their departure has thus been welcomed by civilians who had struggled to maintain connectivity during the Burundian military presence.

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However, the new Burundian base in Nyamara close to Mikenke, an area controlled by MRDP–Twirwaneho has raised fears of imminent clashes. Twirwaneho currently controls much of the surrounding territory, including Bijabo, Kamombo, and Mikenke.

The Twirwaneho movement began asserting authority over these areas in February 2025, after expelling Burundian troops, FARDC units, FDLR elements, and Wazalendo militias. On February 22, 2025, the group captured the entire Mikenke zone, which previously hosted three Burundian military positions one in the town centre, another near the Vodacom antenna, and a third at Bilalombiri.

Burundian forces have been present in South Kivu since mid-2022 under a bilateral military cooperation agreement signed between President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.