Nairobi – The US embassy in Burundi said on Saturday it has ordered the families of its personnel to leave, citing risks emanating from neighbouring war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement, the embassy said it had “authorised” non-essential employees to depart as well. The embassy said it would continue to provide emergency consular services in Burundi.
The M23 armed group, supported by Rwandan forces, has seized two provincial capitals in eastern DRC in recent weeks, easily pushing aside the Congolese army despite military support provided by Burundi forces.
M23 forces are approaching the Burundi border as they push ahead in the region rich in natural resources.
Some 42,000 refugees have crossed over from the DRC to Burundi just in the past two weeks, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Burundi has begun to withdraw some of the 10,000 soldiers it had deployed to support the Congolese army, sources confirmed this week to AFP, despite official denials.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for a ceasefire during a phone call with Kenyan President William Ruto.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Unsplash
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