Burundi has shut its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo after M23 rebels claimed to have advanced into Uvira, a strategic city in South Kivu near Bujumbura. The rebel group announced that its fighters had “liberated” Uvira and urged residents to remain calm, but the Congolese army rejected the claims as an attempt to spread fear.
FARDC officials insisted that Uvira and its surroundings remain under government control and called on civilians to stay vigilant. The city, currently serving as South Kivu’s temporary administrative headquarters after Bukavu fell to M23 earlier this year, remains a crucial commercial link and gateway into the Great Katanga economic zone.
The escalation comes amid a rising humanitarian emergency. Between December 5 and 9, Burundi recorded close to 38,000 asylum seekers fleeing insecurity in eastern DRC. The border closure now raises concerns about worsening displacement and restricted access for those escaping the conflict.
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