The Burundian National Defense Forces (FDNB) have announced that weapons are being tested near Bujumbura, specifically around Camp 111 in Gatumba.

Authorities urged residents not to mistake the activity for signs of insecurity in the area, which is close to Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and to Bujumbura International Airport in Gakumbu.

Lt. Col. Ernest Hatungimana, commander of Camp 111 in Gatumba, told locals that the sounds they are hearing come from weapons being fired—though some speculate new weapons are being tested. He stressed that the gunfire should not be interpreted as an attack on Bujumbura’s airport, which has seen little air traffic in recent years.

The officer further announced that similar exercises are scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2025, and advised people not to panic when they hear gunfire.

Meanwhile, reports circulating on social media claim that Bujumbura’s airport recently received large cargo planes carrying heavy weapons, allegedly in preparation for potential cross-border attacks from Uvira. The city, the second largest in South Kivu province, is said to be under mounting pressure from the rebel coalition AFC/M23.