The border post linking Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gatumba in neighbouring Burundi officially reopened on Monday, February 23, restoring cross-border movement after more than two months of suspension.
Burundian authorities closed the crossing on 10 December after Uvira fell under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23), disrupting a vital transit corridor relied upon by traders and residents on both sides of the frontier.
In January 2026, the DRC government regained control of Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu province. The city had been serving as a provisional administrative centre after the provincial capital, Bukavu, was seized by M23 in February 2025.
Local media reports indicate that officials from both countries agreed to resume movements across the border under standard procedures, signalling a measured return to normalcy.
Migration authorities, cited by local outlets, assured travellers that those currently in Burundi could cross “in complete tranquillity”, underscoring efforts to stabilise the corridor and rebuild confidence among border communities.