Burundi Reopens Border with DRC Amid Ongoing Fighting in Eastern Congo

Burundi reopened its land border with the DRC at Kavimvira–Gatumba after over two months of closure caused by fighting between government forces and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition. The reopening allows traders and travelers to resume cross-border movement, while thousands of civilians remain displaced due to ongoing clashes in North and South Kivu. Despite a proposed ceasefire by Angola’s President Joao Lourenco, fighting continues, with M23 controlling significant territory including Goma and Bukavu.

Burundi has reopened its land border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after more than two months of closure caused by ongoing fighting in eastern Congo. The Kavimvira–Gatumba border, located on the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika, serves as a strategic link between the DRC and Burundi’s commercial capital, Bujumbura. According to Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, the governor of South Kivu, the border officially reopened on Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time (06:00 GMT). Footage circulating on social media showed travelers, including traders, queuing at immigration offices from the early hours of the morning to gain clearance, reflecting both the eagerness of cross-border movement and the economic importance of the corridor.
The border had been closed in early December after the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), a coalition of rebel groups including M23, captured Uvira. The rebels withdrew from the city in January following international pressure, but the closure disrupted trade, travel, and the livelihoods of communities reliant on the cross-border link. The New Congolese Civil Society South-South Kivu welcomed the reopening of the border and encouraged Congolese refugees who had fled to Burundi amid the intensified fighting to return to their homes.
Despite the reopening, reports indicate that clashes continue between rebel groups and government forces in North Kivu’s Masisi territory, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes. These renewed clashes demonstrate that, while some progress has been made in reopening critical infrastructure and borders, the conflict remains volatile and unpredictable. Earlier this month, Angola’s President Joao Lourenco proposed a ceasefire between the warring parties in eastern Congo, to take effect on February 18. The Congolese government announced its acceptance of the ceasefire in the spirit of responsibility, appeasement, and pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
However, last Friday, the Congolese military accused the AFC/M23 rebels and Rwandan soldiers of attacking its positions in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, a move seen as a violation of the Angola-proposed ceasefire. In response, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Congolese government forces, described as “the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime,” of carrying out relentless and indiscriminate bombardments of densely populated areas, particularly in the Rumbishi area.
The M23 rebel group has been at the center of the conflict in eastern Congo, controlling significant territory including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, both of which were seized early in 2025. During the capture of Bukavu, Uvira served as the temporary capital of South Kivu province. The reopening of the Burundi-DRC border represents a critical step in restoring some stability and normalcy for civilians, trade, and commerce, even as fighting and political tensions persist in the wider eastern Congo region.
Observers note that while reopening the border is a positive development for cross-border trade and movement, long-term stability will depend on effective enforcement of ceasefires, continued international diplomatic engagement, and measures to protect civilians caught between rebel and government forces. The border reopening also offers hope for displaced communities and returning refugees, signaling a modest yet meaningful step toward recovery amid one of Africa’s most protracted and complex conflicts.