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Is RED-Tabara using violence to control the region for power?
Burundi soldiers stand guard during a patrol. Photo Credit: AFP
An armed gang known as RED-Tabara has wreaked havoc in Burundi amid the tumultuous waters of the Great Lakes region. But as the violence grows and tensions rise between neighbouring countries, one question remains: what is driving RED-Tabara’s reign of chaos?
The facts
The RED-Tabara armed group is based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has launched attacks in Burundi since late 2023.
RED-Tabara, an abbreviation for Résistance pour un État de Droit au Burundi (Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi), seeks to remove the Burundi government.
Attacks by RED-Tabara largely target people rather than government installations or military bases, raising concerns about the group’s motivation.
RED-Tabara came about in 2015 in response to a political crisis and failed coup against Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The organisation professes to be fighting for the restoration of the rule of law, but it has been chastised for its indiscriminate attacks, which resemble terrorist acts.
RED-Tabara operates from the DRC’s eastern area, near the Burundi border.
The arguments
RED-Tabara’s actions are seen as part of a coordinated effort to transform the geopolitical landscape of the Great Lakes region, involving political and commercial concerns, particularly control over mining areas and mineral trade.
Tensions between Burundi and Rwanda
Accusations of Rwandan assistance for RED-Tabara have heightened tensions between Burundi and Rwanda, resulting in border closures, political tensions, and probable economic consequences that may impede cross-border trade and regional integration attempts.
Origins and objectives of RED-Tabara
Initially positioned as an alternative to existing militia groups, RED-Tabara professes to fight for the rule of law and the restoration of governance as stipulated in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. However, its tactics have evolved towards fear, resulting in a departure from its initial vision.
Rwandan involvement
Rwanda’s claimed backing for RED-Tabara is viewed as part of a larger campaign to weaken Burundi’s influence, particularly its military presence in the DRC. The presence of former coup leaders in Rwanda, as well as claims of Burundian rebel recruitment, have fueled tensions between the two countries.
Complex conflict dynamics
The conflict involving RED-Tabara complicates the already complex dynamics in the Great Lakes region, where proxy wars and competing interests collide, as evidenced by Burundian troops fighting against the M23 rebel group in the DRC, with allegations of Rwandan financing of the M23 compounding the complexity.
