Burundi’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Prime Niyongabo, recently issued a seemingly routine letter reminding army personnel that they are not allowed to possess ordinary passports. On the surface, this appears unremarkable, but in reality, the reminder betrays a much deeper problem: massive desertions are rocking the army.
Reports indicate that over 1,000 soldiers went missing from the battlefield in the DRC — neither confirmed dead nor accounted for — a staggering figure that highlights the scale of disaffection. In February 2024 alone, several hundred soldiers were imprisoned for refusing deployment in a conflict they do not consider their own.
The fall of Uvira last December, which resembled a rout, amplified the malaise, exposing deep divisions in the command chain: some units were ordered to retreat back to Burundi, while others were told to hold their positions in the Congo, sowing confusion and distrust.
The causes of desertion are complex. Many soldiers refuse to fight in a war without a cause. Worse still, the army’s collaboration with openly anti-Tutsi militias such as the Wazalendo and FDLR has alienated troops, fueling ethnic divisions within its ranks.
Corruption within the military hierarchy exacerbates resentment, as leaders profit from Congo’s minerals while abandoning the wounded and captured, and failing to compensate families of the dead.
Poor equipment, inconsistent command, and inadequate logistical support only worsen morale.
Even small tactical victories here and there have done little to change these dynamics. The army’s campaign in eastern DRC has been disastrous so far, and rare successes cannot offset the widespread determination among troops to flee. Those lucky to return alive or who have yet to be deployed prefer to seek poorly paid jobs abroad in the UAE and other Arab countries rather than face (another) deployment.
In this context, the CDS letter is more than administrative housekeeping. It is a subtle attempt to deter desertion through bureaucratic control — closing a loophole whereby soldiers could misuse ordinary passports to leave the country. But Burundi’s armed forces are in crisis, and no letter or policy can mask the underlying realities.
Desertions do not necessarily reflect cowardice but rather deep dissatisfaction with leadership, the purpose of the campaign, and the ethical compromises soldiers are being asked to make. As a result, resentment is rising, discipline is strained, and morale is low. Until these issues are addressed, the army’s cohesion will remain precarious, and every administrative memo will serve as a stark reminder of the institution’s instability.
More importantly, this is not Burundi’s war — but it could become the country’s downfall if its leaders insist on helping a bloodthirsty regime exterminate part of the Congolese population on an ethnic basis.