Congolese refugees from the Abembe and Abapfulero ethnic groups who fled to the Gasogwe refugee camp have requested the Kinshasa government to provide them with weapons so they can fight against the Alliance Fleuve Congo, which includes the M23 and Twirwaneho groups, if President Felix Tshisekedi has failed to combat them.
The Gasogwe refugee camp is located in the Muyinga province in the western part of Burundi.
This camp houses Congolese refugees, mainly from South Kivu, numbering over 10,000.
Yesterday, Friday, April 18, 2025, a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived at this camp.
The delegation included various leaders and representatives from their embassy (Congo) in Bujumbura. Additionally, there was an envoy from the Burundian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Afterward, this delegation informed the refugees about their visit, expressing their intention to listen to the issues they face.
When these refugees were given the opportunity to ask questions and express their requests, they told the delegation from the DRC and the envoy from the Burundian Minister of Foreign Affairs to ask President Felix Tshisekedi if he has failed to fight against M23, and if he indeed has failed, they should provide them with weapons to fight it, as they believe they have the capacity to eliminate it.
The refugees gave a message to speak on their behalf, stating: “Honorable representatives of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burundi and you representatives of Congo, convey a message to President Felix Tshisekedi, saying: ‘If he has failed to fight M23, we are here and we will fight it and eliminate it,’ provide us with weapons and a route to cross. The rest he can keep to himself.”
These refugees continued to express to the delegation that they are always ready to cross into Eastern Congo to fight and assist the Congolese army.
Furthermore, they mentioned that President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo is called “Beton,” thus they must act as his name implies.
Among these refugees, one stated that they have the capacity to kill 10 M23 fighters in a short time and that they could eliminate them all at once.
These refugees requested the Kinshasa government to allow them to fight M23 as this group has already captured a large part of the Eastern region of this country, as it controls almost all of North Kivu province and a large part of South Kivu province. This is while it controls the cities of Bukavu and Goma and many areas within those provinces.
