The Burundi National Defense Forces have reportedly deployed BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers near the Kamanyola border area.
Positioned in Rugombo, the Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi (FDNB) the two (or more) military systems are said to have a line of sight toward Ngomo Hill, Kamanyola Centre in South Kivu area of DR Congo, and Bugarama in Rwanda.
Kamanyola is a strategically located border locality in the Walungu Territory of South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sources from the area indicate that some of potential targets that are under the Burundi National Defense Force’s radar consideration include the Rusizi II Bridge and Ngomo Hill.
Authorities in Bujumbura were not readily available for comment.
In another development, clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and allied forces continue to move closer to Uvira, Baraka, and Fizi, raising regional security concerns.
Meanwhile, despite earlier reports indicating that Rwandan President, Paul Kagame would attend the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow alongside several African leaders, Kigali ultimately sent the country’s Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva to represent the Head of State.
President Kagame’s absence has sparked political speculation, particularly given the confirmed presence of DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, both of whom have strained relations with Kigali.
Some analysts had initially viewed the summit as a potential diplomatic platform for regional reconciliation.
However, Kagame’s decision to stay away suggests that a face-to-face meeting involving Kagame, Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye remains highly unlikely in the near term.
And in another story development, it seems Burundi is also chucking out refugees from DR Congo.
Burundi’s National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (ONPRA) has directed Congolese refugees living outside designated camps, including many who are roaming in Bujumbura, to return to the camps assigned to them or be evicted out altogether.
The move, presented as a measure to strengthen refugee management and security oversight, has raised concerns among families who rely on work and small businesses in the city to support relatives in the camps.
The directive comes amid heightened scrutiny of some Congolese refugees, including Banyamulenge, following recent security-related arrests.
As of August–September 2026, Bujumbura Mairie hosts approximately 28,959 refugees and asylum-seekers, primarily from the DRC, making it Burundi’s second-largest refugee concentration area.
Analysts say the key question now is how the policy will be implemented while safeguarding refugees’ rights, livelihoods and access to essential services.
