With just days to go before the 12th summit of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement for Peace, Security, and Cooperation, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye paid a working visit to Kinshasa on Sunday, May 25, 2025, where he was received by his Congolese counterpart, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi.
According to a statement from the Burundian Presidency, the visit aimed to prepare for the upcoming summit to be held in Kampala, Uganda, in June, during which President Ndayishimiye is expected to conclude his term as rotating chair of the Mechanism of Regional Supervision (MRS).
Although no official statement was released regarding the closed-door talks between the two heads of state, intelligence sources and regional security officials suggest that Burundi may be preparing to increase its military presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This would be part of a broader strategy to support efforts to neutralize the M23 rebel group, which continues to control strategic territories in North Kivu province.
Burundi already has troops deployed in eastern Congo working in coordination with Congolese forces. However, reports indicate that discussions are underway to further bolster this military cooperation, in line with the 2013 Addis Ababa Framework Agreement, which aims to foster lasting peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
The upcoming Kampala summit is expected to push for renewed commitment from the 11 signatory countries of the agreement, especially in regard to addressing persistent insecurity and dismantling armed groups like M23, which pose a threat to regional stability.
