UVIRA, DR Congo — Cross-border movement between eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi resumed Monday at the strategic Gatumba-Kavimvira crossing, offering relief to traders, students and families after a weeks-long closure triggered by insecurity linked to the AFC/M23 rebel advance into Uvira. Africanews reported scenes of celebration and heavy foot traffic at the crossing, with residents describing the reopening as both an economic and emotional lifeline.
Burundi had shut the border post in December after AFC/M23 fighters entered Uvira, a key commercial city on Lake Tanganyika and a gateway to Burundi. Reuters previously reported that M23 captured Uvira in December 2025 before withdrawing about a week later, after which Congolese forces and officials began returning to re-establish state control in the city.
On Monday, traders, transporters and displaced residents crossed in both directions, while motorcycle taxis and bicycles carrying goods resumed operations, according to Africanews. Local residents said the reopening restores daily exchanges that many households in Uvira depend on for food supply, income and transport. The closure had severely disrupted Uvira’s informal economy and cross-border commerce with Gatumba, contributing to shortages and price increases, local residents told Africanews. The crossing is a critical artery for small-scale traders and workers whose livelihoods rely on daily mobility between the two border communities.
The reopening also comes amid fragile refugee return movements. UNHCR situation updates in February said fighting around Uvira and other parts of South Kivu had triggered a major influx of Congolese refugees into Burundi beginning in December, with reports of spontaneous returns during a temporary lull in fighting. UNHCR documents also referenced returns toward the Kavimvira Transit Centre as security conditions partially improved.
Reuters reported earlier this month that the U.N. peacekeeping mission planned reconnaissance flights to Uvira as part of preparations tied to ceasefire monitoring efforts in eastern Congo, underscoring that the security situation remains volatile despite signs of normalization. For residents returning to Uvira, Monday’s reopening is being treated as a cautious step forward rather than a full reset. While traffic and trade have resumed, humanitarian agencies and local authorities continue to monitor displacement patterns and security risks in South Kivu.
