Burundi Closes Kavimvira and Vugizo Borders With DR Congo After Uvira Falls
Burundi has closed the Kavimvira and Vugizo border posts with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the capture of Uvira by the AFC/M23 rebel coalition in South Kivu Province.
Security and military officials confirmed to AFP that the border was shut on the afternoon of December 9, 2025, citing heightened military operations in the area. A Burundian army officer told the agency that the zones surrounding the crossings had been designated as “military-only areas,” prompting the closure.
On Wednesday, December 10, the AFC/M23 officially announced it had seized Uvira, a strategic city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Prior to the statement, reports had already circulated that rebel fighters had entered the city on Tuesday evening.
The fall of Uvira marks a major setback for the Congolese government coalition, which includes Burundian forces, FARDC troops, Wazalendo militias, and FDLR fighters. Burundian soldiers, who have been directly engaged in combat on Congolese soil, were seen retreating in large numbers. Local sources in Uvira reported that some Burundian troops crossed back into Burundi while others fled into the Itombwe forest.
With the closure of Kavimvira and Vugizo, Burundi now maintains only its border with Tanzania open. Its frontier with Rwanda has remained closed since January 2024 due to ongoing diplomatic tensions.
