• Burundi-DRC Kavimvira-Gatumba border crossing reopens
• Closure followed M23 seizure of Uvira in December
• Ceasefire talks advance under Doha Framework Agreement

The Kavimvira-Gatumba border crossing between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reopened on Monday, Feb. 23, local media reported. Congolese nationals can now return to the territories of Uvira and Fizi, even if they lost their travel documents or if those documents expired after M23 rebels seized Uvira.

The crossing had been closed in December 2025 after M23 fighters took control of Uvira, a strategic city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika near the Burundian border. Authorities shut the crossing for security reasons. Local media describe Kavimvira-Gatumba as a key route for cross-border trade between the two countries.

The reopening follows an announcement by the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) that its fighters would withdraw from Uvira in South Kivu province. The group said the move came at the request of Washington as part of mediation efforts between Kinshasa and Kigali.

The Congolese government dismissed the announcement as a diversion, accusing the group of trying to distract the international community, which has called for the immediate withdrawal of rebel forces from areas they occupy in eastern DRC.

The security situation in the DRC has shown signs of stabilization in recent months. The United States has launched diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace agreement, with President Félix Tshisekedi involved in the talks. On Monday, Feb. 2, the Congolese government and AFC/M23 signed a document setting out the terms of reference for a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism under the Doha Framework Agreement signed in November 2025.

Lydie Mobio