The closure of the land border between Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gatumba in Burundi has brought the economic and social life of the border city to a standstill, creating a deepening humanitarian crisis two months after the shutdown.
The border was sealed by Burundi on December 10, following the temporary incursion of AFC/M23 fighters into Uvira. While Congolese authorities regained administrative and security control by January, the crossing remains closed. This decision, taken for security reasons, has crippled Uvira’s economy, which relies heavily on cross-border trade. Prior to the closure, daily flows of traders, transporters, and families moved through the Kavimvira and Gatumba posts, exchanging food, clothing, medicines, and goods. This activity provided a livelihood for a large portion of Uvira’s population.
Local merchants now report severe hardship. “We depended on Bujumbura. We took goods to Bujumbura and brought other products back here. Now, in Uvira, we are suffering greatly,” said trader Scolastique Mushota. The nearby Burundian capital, less than 30 kilometres away, served as a critical market for Congolese products and a source of essential supplies. With this circuit severed, household incomes have collapsed and basic goods are scarce.
The impact extends beyond commerce. Residents previously accessed healthcare in Bujumbura, where facilities were sometimes better equipped. “People are dying because of a lack of care. Before, we would take a sick person to Bujumbura for treatment, but now the situation is disastrous,” stated trader Julienne Mapendo. The closure complicates the referral of urgent medical cases, exacerbating feelings of abandonment.
The border also functions as a shared social space. Many families have members on both sides, with cross-border marriages, schooling, and family visits being common. Parent Georges Bibenga expressed concern for children displaced by recent fighting: “These children who have fled to Burundi should be able to return to their homes in Uvira to continue their schooling.” The persistent closure prevents such reunions and disrupts education prolonging the disruption to normal life.
Despite the relative calm and return of state services to Uvira, the Gatumba post remains shut. Civil society activist Ghislain Baraiga Kabamba emphasized the border’s integral role: “For us, this border is a factor in development, an economic factor and an important social factor. So its reopening will be a relief.” Residents acknowledge security concerns but urge a balance that protects both states while restoring a vital lifeline.
With each passing day, households grow more vulnerable. Empty market stalls symbolize the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution that reopens this critical crossing, addressing both security imperatives and the population’s survival. The situation in Uvira underscores how border policies can rapidly escalate from a security measure into a widespread humanitarian and economic emergency.
