Congo-Burundi Border Reopens After 2-Month Closure

A vital trade route connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi sprang back to life this week after being shut down for over two months. The Kavimvira border crossing, which links Uvira in South Kivu province with Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura, welcomed more than 10,000 crossings on Monday alone.

The border closed in December when M23 rebels seized control of Uvira. Congolese authorities regained control after rebel forces withdrew on January 18, allowing the crossing to reopen with daily operations from 5am to 5pm.

For the region, this isn't just about open roads. Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki says the land and lake borders with Burundi account for nearly half of the provincial economy, serving as a critical corridor for goods traveling from Indian Ocean ports through Burundi to eastern Congo.

Robert Mayani, a Congolese entrepreneur who exports beer to Burundi, captured the relief felt by thousands of traders. "All the time this border was closed, it was as if we were cut off from the rest of the world," he says as he restarts his business operations.

The Ripple Effect

The border's reopening sends waves of hope far beyond commerce. Around 400,000 displaced people in the area will soon receive crucial support as humanitarian aid flows freely again.

Governor Purusi announced that 4,000 tonnes of food from the World Food Programme will arrive soon. The Red Cross is also expanding its operations in the region, bringing medical care and supplies to more than one million people living in South Kivu's Ruzizi Plain.

Dr. Guilain Bilal returned to Uvira after spending weeks in Bujumbura during the closure. "My patients were suffering from my absence and when some learned that I was back, they were very happy," he says.

On his first day back, Dr. Bilal performed a caesarean section and delivered a healthy baby boy. "It's a blessing," he says, a sentiment shared by tens of thousands of Congolese refugees in Burundi who can now return home and resume their lives.

The reopening marks a fresh start for families, traders, and communities separated by conflict but united by hope.