Resistance for Rule of Law in Burundi ( French: ''Résistance pour un État de Droit au Burundi'',

Abbreviation An abbreviation () is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening (linguistics), shortening, contraction (grammar), contraction, initialism (which includes acronym), or crasis. An abbreviation may be a shortened for ...

: RED-Tabara) is a

Burundi Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa, with a population of over 14 million peop ...

tutsi The Tutsi ( ), also called Watusi, Watutsi or Abatutsi (), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bantu languages, Bantu-speaking ethnic group and the second largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi ( ...

rebel militia that was formed in 2015 in the wake of the political crisis in the country. The group opposes the political control of the

National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy The National Council for the Defense of DemocracyForces for the Defense of Democracy (, CNDD–FDD) is the major political party in Burundi. During the Burundian Civil War, the CNDD–FDD was the most significant rebel group active and became a m ...

and former president

Pierre Nkurunziza Pierre Nkurunziza (18 December 1964 – 8 June 2020) was a Burundian politician who served as the ninth president of Burundi for almost 15 years from August 2005 until his death in June 2020. A member of the Hutu, Hutu ethnic group, Nkurunziza ...

and is allied with a number of other opposition groups, including the Popular Forces of Burundi. Since February 12, 2016, Melchiade Biremba has been the leader of the group. In an interview to

Jeune Afrique ''Jeune Afrique'' (English: ''Young Africa'') is a French-language pan-African weekly news magazine, founded in 1960 in Tunis and subsequently published in Paris by Jeune Afrique Media Group. It is the most widely read pan-African magazine. It o ...

, Biremba explained the goals of the organization: While many members of the group were former members of Alexis Sinduhije's Movement for Solidarity and Democracy, both Sinduhije and Biremba deny any connection between RED-Tabara and the party.

Activities

According to reports from the UN Group of Experts, RED-Tabara was the recipient of logistical support from

Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...

, after recruits for the group were captured in

South Kivu South Kivu (; ) is one of Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital city, capital is Bukavu. Located within the East African Rift's western branch Albertine Rift, it is ...

. The combatants claimed that they had been recruited from refugee camps in Rwanda and received training by people in Rwandan military uniforms. During the

2015 Burundian unrest Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number) *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music *Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak album), 2007 * ''15'' (Phatfish album), 2008 * ...

, the group engaged in attacks against the NCDD-FDD, and its youth wing, the Imbonerakure. In November 2016, according to observers, RED-Tabara was the largest movement in terms of combattants, but the least operational. However, by the end of 2016, support for the group appeared to decline. In August 2017, reports from the UN Group of Experts and

Radio France Internationale Radio France Internationale, usually referred to as RFI, is the State media, state-owned international radio news network of France. With 59.5 million listeners in 2022, it is one of the most-listened-to international radio stations in the world ...

that several RED-Tabara fighters had left the group and joined the Popular Forces of Burundi., On August 27, 2017, leader Melchiade Biremba was captured in the Congolese village of Rurambo and detained in

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...

. Despite these issues, the

National Defence Force (Burundi) The Burundi National Defence Force (; FDNB) is the military of Burundi. A general staff commands the armed forces, consisting of a joint staff; a training staff, and a logistics staff. Naval and aviation commands exist, as well as specialised uni ...

and the Imbonerakure conducted several incursions into the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2021 and 2022 aimed at attacking the group., On December 23, 2023, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the village of Vugizo which killed 20 people and wounded nine others. In January 2024, Burundi closed all its land borders with Rwanda, for an indefinite period after Rwanda was accused of supporting the RED-Tabara.

References

{{Reflist Rebel groups in Burundi Organizations established in 2015 Burundi–Rwanda relations