Border Reopens as Families Return Home After 3 Months

After 90 days of uncertainty, Joseph Bahisi is finally going home.

The 40-year-old father of four fled his hometown of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last December when conflict reached his neighborhood. He packed only what his family could carry in one suitcase and walked five kilometers to cross into Burundi, joining 90,000 others seeking safety at Rumonge refugee camp.

"We decided it would be best to leave for our own safety," Bahisi told reporters. He wanted to spare his family from the violence spreading through surrounding areas.

When the fighting intensified, Burundian authorities closed the Kavimvira border crossing on December 10, citing security concerns. Even when tensions eased a week later, the border stayed shut, leaving families trapped on the wrong side with no way to check on their homes or belongings.

This Monday, after months of waiting, the crossing officially reopened. Hundreds of families immediately began streaming through, many without travel documents because they'd fled in such a rush.

The Bright Side

Local authorities on the DRC side made the choice to let people return home regardless of whether they had immigration papers. They understood that many Congolese had fled without their identity documents and prioritized reuniting families over bureaucratic requirements.

Inspector General of Migration Maurice Mbonimpa visited the border Monday morning to ensure officers resumed normal services without exceptional restrictions. The wooden immigration offices that had been padlocked for weeks swung open to welcome people back.

Tensions near the border have decreased significantly, and a UN peacekeeping mission deployed an assessment team to Uvira this week to evaluate security conditions and support ongoing ceasefire monitoring.

Walking along the road 200 meters from the border on the Congolese side, Bahisi carried his hopes with him. "I hope that when I get home, I will find my vehicle by the grace of God," he said, though he'd heard reports that some vehicles were taken during the conflict.

By the end of the first day, nearly 500 Congolese families had crossed back into their homeland.

The reopening represents more than just a policy change—it's thousands of families getting the chance to return to the places they call home.