As current chair of the African Union and a key witness to the Washington peace accord between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame—facilitated by then-US President Donald Trump—the Burundi government has expressed deep concern about the stalled implementation of this landmark agreement.

During high-level talks in Bujumbura on June 1 with his Congolese counterpart Floribert Anzuluni, Burundian Foreign Minister Édouard Bizimana highlighted that despite some progress in refugee returns, many areas remain mired in insecurity. He stressed the urgent need for robust international intervention to support existing regional initiatives.

“While we welcome the limited returns of displaced populations, the fighting continues unabated in critical zones,” Bizimana stated. “The Washington Accord, though signed with great hope, has failed to translate into tangible peace on the ground. We call for stronger coordinated action from the international community to address this persistent crisis.”

The Burundian official also underscored the strategic alliance between Bujumbura and Kinshasa, strengthened by a 2023 bilateral defense pact. With the resurgence of M23 rebel activity backed by Kigali in eastern DRC, Burundi has deployed troops to support Congolese forces (FARDC) in securing shared borders—a move that has drawn praise from Congolese authorities.

For his part, Minister Anzuluni commended Burundi’s diplomatic leadership, particularly its role in mobilizing humanitarian aid for Congolese refugees in Burundi. The two ministers also reviewed progress on the construction of Burundi’s embassy in Kinshasa and preparations for the upcoming ICGLR summit, where DRC currently holds the rotating presidency.

Emphasizing Burundi’s commitment to silencing the guns across Africa, Bizimana reiterated President Évariste Ndayishimiye’s pledge during his AU chairmanship handover from Angola’s João Lourenço. “Peace in the Great Lakes region demands collective resolve,” he asserted. “We cannot afford further delays in implementing agreements that were painstakingly negotiated.”

The deadlock persists despite multiple mediation efforts, including the April 2026 Montreux talks in Switzerland—attended by DRC, M23 representatives, US, Qatari, and Togolese (AU mediator) envoys. Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and divergent interpretations of the Washington Accord’s terms have stalled progress, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire.