Burundi reopened the Kavimvira border with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, restoring a crucial route for trade and travel that had been closed for over two months due to escalating conflict in eastern Congo.
The border connects Uvira, a strategic town in South Kivu province, to Bujumbura, Burundi’s main commercial city, and its reopening is expected to ease movement for thousands of people and goods affected by the closure.
The crossing was shut in December after the M23 rebel group renewed attacks in eastern Congo, particularly around Uvira, seeking to weaken Congolese government forces backed by Burundi. The violence displaced tens of thousands of civilians, with the United Nations reporting that nearly 80,000 Congolese crossed into Burundi to escape the fighting.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu, confirmed the border reopened at 8:00 am on Monday. A Burundian border officer said the move has already allowed large numbers of displaced Congolese to return home.
"We can see a lot of Congolese returning home,” the official said, noting that the flow of people is steady.
Despite the reopening, other crossing points remain closed in areas where M23 forces are still present. Meanwhile, refugee camps in Burundi continue to host many Congolese who remain unable to return.
“Many of us want to go home to Congo because here we are living in inhuman conditions. For now, the camp officials have not told us what is going to happen,” said a resident at the Busuma camp.
The withdrawal of M23 fighters from Uvira in January came after international pressure, including interventions from the United States, which has been mediating between Congo and Rwanda.
“In an act of political responsibility and major strategic significance M23 has officially placed the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province, under the full and entire responsibility of the international community,” the rebel group stated.
“This initiative clearly demonstrates the AFC/M23’s firm intention to fully respect the current ceasefire and to support a peaceful and political resolution of the crisis in the eastern DRC.”
The group further urged the global community to send neutral peacekeeping forces to Uvira, citing the presence of Burundian troops, local Wazalendo militias, and mercenaries supporting elements of the Congolese army.
“M23 issues an urgent appeal to the international community to fully assume its responsibilities and to ensure the immediate deployment of a genuinely neutral and effective force in Uvira,” the group said.
While the reopening offers hope for resuming trade and family reunions, many parts of eastern Congo remain volatile, keeping other border points closed and thousands in temporary shelters.
