The recent arrest of Babunga Benjamin Watuna, an analyst and former humanitarian worker, has raised serious questions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This development comes amid a tense regional climate, marked by increased security cooperation between Kinshasa and Bujumbura.
A Controversial Figure
Babunga Benjamin Watuna is a divisive figure. His supporters consider him an independent observer whose analyses of the region’s security dynamics are particularly well-documented. Conversely, his detractors suspect him of ideological ties to the M23 or Kigali.
Before his arrest, he had a distinguished professional background working with international humanitarian organizations (including Mercy Corps, Save the Children, CARE, ZOA, ADRA, AMI, and UNOPS). Having studied in Burundi and divided his time between Bujumbura and Uvira, he has deep ties to the region. According to family sources, his wife and children currently reside in Belgium.
Security Cooperation Under Pressure
Mr. Watuna’s arrest reflects a trend observed for several months: an intensification of collaboration between Burundian and Congolese intelligence services.
This cooperation regularly results in the arrest, on Burundian soil, of Congolese nationals suspected of links with the M23 or Rwanda. Once arrested, these individuals are frequently transferred to prisons in Kinshasa. This was notably the case of Laurent Ruboneka, an employee at the DRC embassy in Burundi, who was arrested in 2025.
The arrest of Babunga Benjamin Watuna comes precisely the day after an official visit to Bujumbura by the Congolese Deputy Prime Minister of Defense, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, who was received on May 26, 2026, by his Burundian counterpart, Marie Chantal Nijimbere.
The conflict in the East: a complex regional puzzle
This security rapprochement is taking place against the backdrop of a persistent conflict in eastern DRC:
– Military operations: Since August 2022, Burundi has deployed troops alongside the FARDC against the M23. Recently, after withdrawing from Uvira and the Rusizi Plain, the Burundian army reinforced its positions in South Kivu via Lake Tanganyika. – War of accusations: Kinshasa maintains that Rwanda supports the M23 (support substantiated by United Nations reports), while Kigali accuses the DRC and Burundi of backing the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu rebel group.
– Humanitarian crisis: Despite diplomatic efforts, the fighting continues to cause massive displacement of civilians, exacerbating the crisis in the Great Lakes region.
To date, neither the Burundian nor Congolese authorities have responded to the appeal launched by civil society and the analyst’s family, who are demanding his release and formally opposing his extradition.
With S.O.S Burundi
