Border Closure Strands Congolese in Burundi, Exposing Regional Crisis After Uvira’s Fall

By our regional affairs desk | Analysis based on reporting from SOS Médias Burundi

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – A sudden and severe border closure has left dozens of Congolese citizens stranded in Burundi’s capital, creating a stark microcosm of the wider humanitarian disaster unfolding in Central Africa’s Great Lakes region. The move, enacted by Burundian authorities, followed the capture of the strategic city of Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by M23 rebels on December 9th.

A Legal Crossing Turns Into a Trap

According to a report by the SOS Médias Burundi Collective, the individuals now stranded had entered Burundi legally for a range of routine purposes—medical treatment, business, travel, and family visits. The fall of Uvira, located just kilometers from the Burundian border, prompted a swift security response, leading to the closure of the primary Gatumba border crossing. This has transformed their temporary stays into an indefinite exile, cutting them off from families now caught in a conflict zone.

“I stood there, speechless. I don’t even know if my family is safe,” Samuel, a Uvira resident who had traveled to Bujumbura for healthcare, told SOS Médias. His account, echoed by others like trader Kituza, underscores the human cost of geopolitical maneuvers. “If we die, we die together,” Kituza pleaded with border officials before being turned back.

Compounding a Massive Refugee Crisis

The plight of the stranded is a secondary layer to a much larger exodus. In the week following Uvira’s capture, over 40,000 Congolese fled into Burundi, overwhelming existing transit sites. The Gatumba border post’s courtyard is now an improvised shelter, ill-equipped for the influx. This new wave adds to a longstanding Congolese refugee population in Burundi that exceeds 100,000 people.

With traditional land routes severed, Lake Tanganyika has become a critical, if perilous, escape route. Civilians from towns like Makoboro and Baraka are risking the lake crossing, further illustrating the desperate search for safety as the M23 consolidates control in South Kivu.

The Geopolitical Tinderbox at the Border

The closure of Gatumba is not merely a logistical decision but a reflection of the intense security dilemma facing Burundi. The nation has deployed over 10,000 soldiers to the DRC since 2023 as part of a regional coalition supporting the Congolese army (FARDC) against M23 and other armed groups.

Accusations and Alliances

This intervention occurs within a complex web of regional accusations:

• The DRC government accuses Rwanda of backing the M23, a claim supported by UN experts.
• Rwanda, in turn, alleges that the DRC and Burundi collaborate with the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu armed group with links to the 1994 genocide.

This context makes the Burundi-DRC border a potential flashpoint, forcing Bujumbura to balance its military commitments abroad with the imperative to secure its own territory against spillover conflict.

Analysis: The ‘So What’ for the Region and Beyond

The stranding of legal travelers reveals a critical insight: conflict disrupts not only the lives of the displaced but also the fundamental rhythms of regional commerce, healthcare, and family ties. The closure of a major border post halts the flow of goods and people that sustains local economies on both sides.

Furthermore, Burundi’s challenge is a bellwether for regional stability. The country must now manage a dual burden: a military expedition in eastern DRC and a escalating humanitarian crisis at home. The strain on resources and social services could test the nation’s resilience, with potential consequences for its own internal stability.

For the international community, the situation highlights the limitations of crisis response. There is currently no clear mechanism to repatriate stranded citizens like Samuel and Kituza, pointing to a gap in humanitarian planning for those caught in legal limbo during sudden escalations.

Source & Attribution: This report is based on original field reporting by the SOS Médias Burundi Collective, published by RNA News. The firsthand accounts and initial data points are sourced from their article, “Crise frontalière : des Congolais bloqués à Bujumbura après la chute d’Uvira,” which can be accessed here.