General information
Current Name: RED-TABARA
Current Name full English: Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi
Current Name full native language: Résistance pour un Etat de Droit au Burundi / Umuhari Uharanira Iteka n'Itekane
Original Name: FRONABU Tabara
Original Name full English: Burundi National Front
Original Name full native language: Front National pour la Révolution au Burundi
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Name Change: From FRONABU Tabara to FPM/ADN
On: 2012-10-04
Name Change: From FPM/ADN to RED-TABARA
On: 2016-01-01
Conflict issues
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Conflict Goal Issues: RED-TABARA (Résistance pour un Etat de Droit au Burundi - Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi) was a Burundian armed rebel group formed on 24 April 2011 with the pronounced goal of ousting the incumbent Tutsi regime, reinstating the constitution laid out by the Burundian Arusha accords in 2000, and introduce a democratic political system with free elections. In order to achieve these conflict goals, the group aspired to militarily overthrow the Burundian government and subsequently install a transitional government tasked with holding the democratic elections. RED-TABARA did not officially adhere to any specific ideology or religion but were multi-ethnic as opposed to the lion's share of the armed groups active in the civil war. The initially raised issues of ousting the incumbent regime, enforcing the previous constitution, and holding free, fair, and democratic elections continued to be the three most frequently raised and most intensely emphasized conflict goal issues by the RED-TABARA during the years of active conflict. Additionally, Red-Tabara claimed to be fighting to restore justice and the rule of law in Burundi in a 2016 statement and accused Pierre Nkurunziza and his government of electoral fraud, abuses of power, and undemocratic practices. Conclusively, based on the frequency and the emphasis in the statements located by the project, the main conflict goal issues of the RED-TABARA consist of three primary themes. First, the ousting of the president and the government. Second, democratization, civil rights, and free and fair elections. Third, the reinstatement of the 2000 constitution settled in the Arusha agreement
Conflict Dynamics Issues: The project has located three issues raised by the group in 2016 which concerned conflict dynamics. The group accused the Burundian army and government of targeting civilians and committing atrocities, stated that armed resistance was the only "legitimate and obligatory" option to combat these abuses. One of the statements called for Burundians inside the country and in the diaspora to join the group to stop the atrocities and overthrow the incumbent regime, while another warned that without the support of the population, Burundians were "in danger of extermination". Thus, based on the statements located by the project, the collective targeting of civilians, committing of atrocities and abuses, and the call for support by the civilian population and the Burundian diaspora were the primary conflict dynamics issues
Conflict Resolution Issues: The project has not been able to find any statements from this group concerning conflict resolution issues
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues:
Basic needs,
Civil rights,
Constitutional issues,
CPS: Democracy,
Disband para-military forces,
Electoral fraud,
Freedom of expression,
Hold elections,
Oust full executive,
Restructure military forces,
Rule of law
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, IFI: Support from diasporas/foreign fighters
Conflict Resolution Issues: No issues identified.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2019
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
2020
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
2021
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
2022
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
2023
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
2024
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2019 Group Archive
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Comment on Active: RED Tabara was based in the Hauts Plateaux of Kigoma near Gifuni in the Sud Kivu province, DR Congo. After clashes with the Congolese army supported by Imbonerakure RED Tabara was forced to withdraw deeper into the mountains. The main commander of the group was Gisiga and Lumumba Lubumbashi.
Secondary Support: RED Tabara collaborated with Congolese armed groups in the Sud Kivu region, primarily with Mayi Mayi Ilunga. Rwanda also supported the group.
2020 Group Archive
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Comment on Active: RED-Tabara was head-quartered in Rubarati, and Masango and had two other positions in Kitavugambegere and Kiriama in Sud Kivu, DR Congo.
The main commander of the group was “General” Kisiga Ndagizimana Gervé and Lumumba Lubumbashi.
Troop Size: 300
Comment on Troop Size: RED-Tabara had around 300 combatants based in DR Congo (Zaire)
Secondary Support: RED Tabara collaborated with Congolese armed groups in the Sud Kivu region, primarily with Mayi Mayi Ilunga.
2022 Group Archive
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Troop Size: 500-800
Comment on Troop Size: Estimated to number 500 to 800 men.
Secondary Support: In 2022 Rwanda renewed their support for the group.
2023 Group Archive
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Secondary Support: Rwanda
2024 Group Archive
Government of Burundi - RED-TABARA
Secondary Support: Rwanda
