In Uvira, a strategic city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, life is gradually returning to normal. Closed for more than two months , the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi reopened this Monday, February 23 , ending a period of isolation and uncertainty for thousands of residents.
Bujumbura's decision to close the border post followed the capture of the city of Uvira by the AFC/M23 in December, in a particularly tense security context.
From the early hours of the morning, a dense crowd formed at the Kavimvira posts, on the Congolese side, and at Gatumba, on the Burundian side.
Traders, transporters, students, and families separated by the crisis crossed the border, visibly relieved. Motorcycle taxis resumed their routes, bicycles laden with goods reappeared, and cross-border trade, the economic lifeblood of Uvira, restarted.
"I am overjoyed, because we had been looking for a way to get home for a long time, but it wasn't possible," says Dalili Mussa, a Congolese citizen who was stranded in Burundi during the border closure. Like him, many families had found refuge on the other side of the border, fleeing the insecurity.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the advance of M23 rebels in South Kivu province had triggered a significant influx of Congolese refugees into Burundi. The reopening of the border now offers the possibility of a gradual return.
Aline Safi, a Congolese refugee, still remembers the hours of panic: "We were in the house with the children when the crackling of bullets and bombs began. That's when we decided to flee to Burundi so as not to become victims."
Today, she sets foot on Uvira soil once again, hoping to rebuild her life. For more than two months, the halt in border activities severely impacted the local economy. Uvira relies heavily on informal trade and daily exchanges with Gatumba. The disruption of traffic led to soaring prices, shortages of certain basic goods, and a significant loss of income for households.
"The opening of the border is a great joy for us and for all the inhabitants of Uvira," testifies Bosco Amani, a shopkeeper. "Even in Gatumba, there is a celebration. Motorcycles and bicycles are circulating. I even saw students leaving their schools to come and celebrate at the border."
Announced the previous day by the governor of South Kivu, this reopening marks a symbolic and economic turning point for the region. But beyond the euphoria, residents remain cautious. The scars of recent clashes are still visible, and stability remains fragile.
For many, the most important thing now is that the border remains open and that the authorities, both Congolese and Burundian, work to guarantee security and freedom of movement. In Uvira, hope is reborn with the footsteps that once again cross Kavimvira, a tangible sign of a gradual return to normalcy.
