Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye arrived in Kinshasa on Sunday amid rising tensions over unpaid salaries for Burundian troops deployed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He was received at Ndjili International Airport by Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, signaling the urgency of high-level talks between the two countries.
According to military and diplomatic sources, Burundi is demanding payment for one month of arrears owed to its forces fighting alongside the FARDC against armed groups in the east. Widows of Burundian soldiers killed on the front lines have also launched protests, claiming they have not received any family support payments for the past month.
Reports indicate that the Congolese government pays $5,000 per month for each low-ranking Burundian soldier deployed in the conflict zone and $7,000 for high-ranking officers.
Kinshasa is also reportedly obligated to provide additional support to families of Burundian soldiers killed in action.
On top of individual payments, Burundi is said to receive a bulk monthly transfer of $10 million from the Congolese government to sustain its deployment.
The visit comes as Congolese soldiers express growing frustration over their own conditions.
While Burundi’s deployed troops allegedly receive thousands of dollars per month, FARDC soldiers earn about $100 monthly, often with long-standing arrears and with little to no support for families of Congolese soldiers killed in combat.
The stark contrast in treatment has amplified criticism within the DRC about unequal military welfare and the government’s heavy financial reliance on foreign forces to secure its territory.
President Ndayishimiye is expected to meet Congolese authorities to push for immediate settlement of the arrears, as pressure mounts from Burundian military families and political actors.
It is believed that the talks and agreements signed in Doha have triggered agitation between Burundi and DR Congo, with Burundi fearing President Felix Tshisekedi defaulting on his commitments to Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Further developments are expected following the closed-door discussions in Kinshasa.