According to these reports, the soldiers were punished for demanding payment for their service while assisting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in its fight against the M23 rebel group, which was attempting to capture the cities of Goma and Bukavu in the two Kivu provinces.

These soldiers had also previously served in an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Sources say that before receiving this punishment, they were supposed to meet with the Chief of the Burundian Army, Gen. Prime Niyongabo, in Muramvya Province to question him about their missing salaries.

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However, the meeting reportedly did not take place, prompting the soldiers to seek another way to demand their payment. Human rights activist Pacifique Nininahazwe stated that he received information indicating that the soldiers were instead given a “punishment of walking across all of Burundi on foot.”

Reports suggest that by the evening of Wednesday, October 22, some of the soldiers had already reached the former Ruyigi Province, and that their punishment march was still ongoing.

Since 2023, Burundi has deployed around 19 battalions to eastern DRC to support Congolese forces in their battle against the M23 rebel group.

However, it remains difficult to independently verify these claims, as neither the Burundian army nor the government has issued any official statement regarding the matter.