At least 20 Burundian soldiers killed in DR Congo

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BUJUMBURA - At least 20 Burundian soldiers have been killed in ongoing fighting in eastern DR Congo, military sources told AFP on Saturday, only days after a peace deal was signed in Washington.

Thursday's agreement was meant to stabilise the resource-rich east but it has had little visible effect on the ground so far, in an area plagued by conflict for 30 years.

Fighters from the anti-government armed group M23 are battling in South Kivu province with the Congolese army, backed by thousands of Burundian soldiers deployed alongside it.

Both sides are fighting for control of the border town of Kamanyola -- where the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi meet. M23 is currently in control there.

Burundi is currently sending reinforcements to the area and is determined to prevent M23's advance toward Uvira town, as tensions have escalated.

At least 20 Burundian soldiers have been killed and their bodies repatriated to economic capital Bujumbura since the start of these clashes on Monday, two military sources told AFP.

Among the deaths was a lieutenant colonel and his three guards, who were killed Thursday evening in a drone strike in fighting on the Rusizi plain, the same sources said.

The sources added the Burundians had inflicted losses on M23 and had "managed to contain" the forces. They did not give any further details.

An AFP correspondent in South Kivu reported fighting was ongoing on Saturday.

The deaths come as tension rises within military circles in Bujumbura, with President Evariste Ndayishimiye cutting short his trip to Washington.