Addressing a Congolese audience alongside President Félix Tshisekedi, Ndayishimiye declared: "You must have confidence that you have a common enemy. When you have a common enemy, to fight it, unity is required."

There is little doubt that this message is directed against Tutsi communities, particularly the Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi populations who have long faced discrimination, exclusion, and violence in eastern DRC.

The context only reinforces this interpretation: Burundian forces are currently operating alongside a coalition that includes the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), the FDLR genocidal group, Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries.

Ndayishimiye's remarks are neither a message of reconciliation nor de-escalation. On the contrary, they directly undermine diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and the African Union.

The Washington peace agreement between Kigali and Kinshasa, as well as ongoing discussions between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23, are centered on peaceful conflict resolution and political dialogue, not military confrontation. Yet Ndayishimiye’s intent is to stir conflict and incite further violence against Congolese Tutsi communities.

Shortly after his meeting with Tshisekedi, Ndayishimiye recommitted to sending several hundred additional Burundian troops to the DRC. This development coincides with reports that the FARDC-FDLR-Burundian coalition is reorganizing following recent battlefield setbacks. Military units are reportedly being reassembled around Minembwe, Kamanyola, and the Rusizi Plain, potentially in preparation for renewed large-scale operations.

Ndayishimiye has increasingly positioned himself as a central actor in policies and military actions that contribute to the marginalization and displacement of Tutsi communities in eastern DRC. Burundi has already deployed more than 20,000 troops, operating primarily in South Kivu, including Fizi, Mwenga, and areas surrounding Minembwe.

Concerns regarding Ndayishimiye's stance toward the Congolese Tutsi, or Banyamulenge, are not new. In previous statements, he questioned the existence of the Banyamulenge as a distinct ethnic community, arguing that they lack a traditional chieftaincy, a claim that is historically inaccurate and politically significant, as it challenges the identity and legitimacy of a community that has lived in the region for centuries.

The Burundian president has also argued that the Banyamulenge issue emerged only after Rwanda's intervention in Zaire in 1996. Historians and regional experts dispute this characterization, noting that disputes over the citizenship, identity, and political status of the Banyamulenge long predate the wars of the mid-1990s. The roots of these tensions stretch back decades and are deeply intertwined with colonial-era policies, questions of nationality, and local power struggles.

Ndayishimiye's reference to a "common enemy" carries significant weight. In a region where ethnic tensions have repeatedly fuelled cycles of violence, such language cannot be interpreted as a simple call for unity. Instead, it reinforces narratives that portray entire communities as threats, inciting ethnic violence at a moment when political dialogue and reconciliation are urgently needed.

As peace initiatives continue to gain international support, the key question remains: will regional leaders pressure the Ndayishimiye-Tshisekedi alliance to embrace inclusive political solutions, or will they stand by as military escalations continue and eventually spiral out of control?