Burundi’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Édouard Bizimana, was forced to delete a controversial social media post in which he accused the United States and Qatar of corruption and complicity in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a post on X late on Saturday, January 3, Bizimana claimed that Rwanda had "tested POTUS (U.S. President Donald Trump) and there was no action” and was now "capturing more territories in eastern part of DRC in violation of Washington agreement.”
He also singled out Qatar, writing: "It is important to stress Qatar’s negative role using its influence and cash to dissuade US from taking action.”
The remarks, which directly questioned the integrity of U.S.- and Qatar-led mediation efforts, drew attention and sparked a diplomatic backlash, even though Bizimana deleted the post minutes later.
On Sunday afternoon, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye publicly distanced himself from his foreign minister’s statements in a separate post.
"Burundi has always appreciated the longstanding good bilateral relations with Qatar, as well as Qatar’s crucial role in mediation efforts in DRC,” Ndayishimiye wrote.
"It is important to clarify any misunderstanding & wrong statement regarding Qatar’s contribution in development and peacebuilding.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, reacted to the incident, describing it as a diplomatic embarrassment for Burundi.
"So, the President of Burundi reprimands, live on social media, his own Foreign Minister, who had accused Qatar of playing a ‘negative role’ in the conflict in eastern DRC, ‘using its influence and cash to dissuade US from taking action,’ before deleting his post in a panic!” Nduhungirehe wrote on X on Friday.
The episode comes amid U.S.- and Qatar-backed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in eastern DR Congo, initiatives that Rwanda has consistently supported. As part of these efforts, the Rwandan and Congolese Presidents signed a peace accord at the White House on November 25, 2025.
Rwanda has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the Washington Accords, calling on all parties to act responsibly and in good faith. Qatar has also played an increasingly visible mediation role in recent months, hosting high-level engagements and supporting dialogue between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebel groups.
Reports suggest that the Congolese government has expressed reluctance to continue with the Qatar-mediated talks, despite having earlier signed a preliminary comprehensive framework of peace talks with the rebels.
Burundi has itself been linked to actions that have aggravated the security crisis in eastern DRC. Burundian troops deployed in South Kivu have been reported using heavy artillery and armed drones in civilian-populated areas, causing displacement and civilian harm.
There have also been persistent concerns over the targeting and blockade of the Banyamulenge community, a Congolese Tutsi group that has faced violence and restrictions on movement and access to humanitarian assistance.