The security and living conditions of Congolese refugees who have fled to Burundi continue to deteriorate, as reports from the Gatumba area, on the border between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reveal a deeply alarming situation marked by violence, disease, and unexplained deaths.
These refugees, mainly from the city of Uvira and other parts of South Kivu, fled escalating fighting, especially after the AFC/M23 coalition took control of several areas near the Burundian border. However, instead of finding safety and humanitarian assistance, some refugees are reported to have suffered severe abuse, while others have died from cholera and starvation.
According to eyewitnesses, refugees who were staying in temporary camps near the Gatumba border were asking to be transferred to official refugee camps or to be assisted to return safely to the DRC. Instead of receiving clear and humane responses, tensions arose between the refugees and Burundian security forces, particularly the police.
Witnesses say that the police used excessive force, beating refugees including men, women, and youth. Reports indicate that one refugee was struck on the neck with a stick and died on the spot, while many others were seriously injured. These events reportedly took place in front of children and other displaced civilians, creating an atmosphere of fear, panic, and deep distress.
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Beyond the violence, the most heartbreaking development is the death of more than 40 refugees in a very short period at the Gatumba temporary camp. On December 18, 2025, Kifara Kapenda, the Deputy Mayor of Uvira who is himself among the refugees in Burundi, stated that these deaths were mainly caused by cholera linked to poor sanitation, compounded by hunger and the lack of adequate medical care.
As reported by Radio Okapi, Kifara said:
“Eight people died on December 18 alone, five died the previous day. In total, more than 40 people have died within ten days due to cholera and hunger.”
He explained that the Gatumba camp alone hosts nearly 30,000 Congolese refugees, while access to sanitation facilities, clean water, food, and healthcare remains extremely limited. He called on the DRC government and the international community to intervene urgently to prevent further avoidable deaths.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that between December 5 and 16, 2025, Burundi received more than 82,000 Congolese refugees from areas including Kamanyola, Luvungi, Katogota, and the city of Uvira. These refugees were accommodated in temporary camps such as Kansega, Gatumba, Cishemere, Makombe, Vugizo, Rumonge, and Magara.
The Burundian government has openly acknowledged that these camps have far exceeded their capacity, making it extremely difficult to ensure refugees’ health, security, shelter, and food supply.
Burundi’s Ministry of Interior Security announced that between December 5 and 15, 2025, the country received 71,989 Congolese refugees, along with 8,700 Burundian returnees from the DRC. The ministry urgently appealed to national and international donors to provide humanitarian assistance.
It stated:
“The Government of Burundi urgently calls on humanitarian organizations, technical and financial partners, civil society, and faith-based organizations to contribute so that this crisis can receive an appropriate and collective response.”
After AFC/M23 captured several areas near the border, the Burundian government closed the land borders of Gatumba and Vugizo, leaving only the Lake Tanganyika route open. Although AFC/M23 facilitated the return of Burundian nationals who had been stranded in Uvira, Burundi was urged to also open its borders to allow Congolese refugees to return, a request that was not immediately accepted.
The Burundian authorities also ordered Congolese refugees who had been living among local communities, including those renting houses, to leave and move to camps near the border, in accordance with international law, as announced by the Ministry of Interior Security.
UNHCR indicates that as of October 31, 2025, Burundi was hosting 110,746 Congolese refugees, a figure that has increased sharply within just a few weeks. Regional analysts say this situation reflects a deepening crisis in the Great Lakes region, where ongoing conflict in eastern DRC continues to place civilian lives in extreme danger.
