After more than two months of paralysis, land traffic is tentatively resuming between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. This Monday, at 8 a.m. local time, the Kavimvira border post, linking the city of Uvira (South Kivu) to Bujumbura, officially reopened its gates.

A security lock that pops out

The closure was decreed last December, following the major offensive by the armed group AFC/M23 towards the strategic city of Uvira. This rise in rebel power at the gates of Burundi's economic capital prompted the authorities to seal off land access for reasons of national security.

Despite this road blockage, territorial continuity had never been completely broken: trade and human flows had been maintained via the lake route on Lake Tanganyika .

A partial reopening under close surveillance

While there is palpable relief in Kavimvira, the situation remains complex in the region:

1. Kavimvira is currently the only operational land crossing point between the two nations.
2. The other posts located along the Ruzizi plain remain closed , as the AFC/M23 group is still present in these areas despite its withdrawal from Uvira in January.

"The border has been reopened since this morning [...] we are seeing many Congolese returning home," confirmed an officer of the Burundian border police (CGM).

The regional context: Between mediation and tensions

This reopening comes amid a still tense regional climate. The offensive on Uvira had caused the displacement of tens of thousands of Congolese to Burundi and reignited diplomatic tensions between Kigali and Gitega.

The withdrawal of the rebels in January, officially under pressure from American mediation, allowed this first step towards a normalization of trade, vital for the local economy of both countries.