Burundi Maintains Closed Borders with DRC, Refuses Return of Congolese Refugees

Bujumbura, January 30, 2026 - Burundi has announced that it will not reopen its land border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or allow the return of Congolese refugees, citing ongoing security concerns, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Edouard Bizimana. The Gatumba and Vugizo border posts were closed on December 9, 2025, following the entry of AFC/M23 fighters into Uvira. Although the group withdrew on January 17, 2026, and DRC and Wazalendo forces, alongside the Burundian army, regained control the next day, the border remains closed due to continued security risks, including attempted crossings of the Ruzizi River. Minister Bizimana explained at a press conference on January 29 that reopening the border requires ensuring that all security conditions are met. “Opening them today, and then closing them tomorrow because you are not well prepared, without making sure that the requirements are met, no one will do anything,” he said. Since early December 2025, Burundi has hosted over 100,000 Congolese refugees fleeing fighting in the Ruzizi Valley. Many have expressed the desire to return home but have been turned away. Minister Bizimana acknowledged the difficult living conditions in refugee camps but assured that refugees continue to receive support, including financial assistance from the DRC government. “We want those Congolese to return home, to their properties, but there are still issues that prevent the borders from being safely opened,” he stated, adding that the situation will be communicated when it is resolved. Mercenaries Fuel Insecurity in South Kivu, Threatening Regional Stability Kinshasa, 31 January 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s eastern province of South Kivu is facing a new wave of instability as reports indicate a growing reliance on foreign mercenaries, raising alarm across the Great Lakes region. Sources from international and regional media suggest that mercenaries from Eastern Europe and Colombia-countries known for deploying former soldiers abroad-are actively operating alongside both the DRC army and armed groups such as the FDLR, a terrorist organization formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda has repeatedly warned that such alliances pose a serious threat to its own security and that of the broader region. Observers note that President Félix Tshisekedi appears to have prioritized a military strategy over ongoing peace initiatives, sidelining regional and international efforts aimed at dialogue and reconciliation. The deployment of foreign fighters violates previous agreements reached in Luanda, Nairobi, Washington, and Doha, as well as other regional mechanisms designed to dismantle armed groups and restore peace. Reports also suggest that mercenaries have obstructed the operations of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), even intimidating regional soldiers deployed to stabilize South Kivu-a move seen as Kinshasa’s reluctance to implement regional resolutions. Analysts warn that the use of mercenaries often exacerbates conflict rather than resolving it. “History shows that foreign fighters rarely restore peace,” said one expert. “Their presence tends to fuel human rights violations, resource plundering, and further instability.” The DRC’s increasing reliance on Colombian mercenaries highlights persistent weaknesses within its national army. The consequences extend beyond Congo’s borders. Regional security across Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda is threatened, and ethnic tensions are exacerbated, placing civilians-particularly Tutsi communities-at risk outside zones controlled by the AFC/M23. The international community has faced criticism for its muted response to mercenary activity and collaboration with armed groups. Experts argue that continued inaction could prolong the conflict, rather than promote resolution. Observers are calling for urgent condemnation of mercenary use, renewed diplomatic pressure on Kinshasa to return to negotiations, and a commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations. Without decisive action, South Kivu-and the wider Great Lakes region-risks remaining trapped in a cycle of violence.