A key border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi reopened on Monday after more than two months of closure triggered by fighting in eastern Congo, according to officials on both sides of the frontier.
The Kavimvira border post, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, had been shut in December when M23 rebels advanced into the Congolese city of Uvira. The armed group, which controls significant territory in eastern DR Congo, later withdrew voluntarily, easing tensions in the area.
Authorities on the Congolese side confirmed the reopening, while a Burundi police official stationed at the frontier also verified that cross-border movement had resumed. The reopening is expected to restore vital trade and transport links disrupted by the conflict.
The Kavimvira post sits along the main road connecting Uvira with Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital. The crossing is considered critical for regional commerce, with goods, fuel, and agricultural products regularly transported between the two countries. Its closure had strained local businesses and disrupted supply chains on both sides of the border.
Security analysts say the December offensive by the March 23 Movement—also referred to as AFC/M23—appeared strategically aimed at Uvira, a city viewed as a key logistical hub. Experts suggested the advance was intended to disrupt Burundi’s alleged military support to Congolese government forces operating against rebel groups in the region.
Eastern DR Congo has long been plagued by armed conflict involving multiple militias and foreign-backed groups, with recurring violence displacing civilians and undermining economic stability. The temporary closure of the Kavimvira crossing further highlighted the fragile security environment in the Great Lakes region.
With the border post now reopened, authorities hope cross-border trade will resume smoothly, although concerns remain over the durability of the security situation in eastern Congo.
