Tens of Thousands Flee DR Congo to Burundi as Rebels Take Control of Key City. Bujumbura, Burundi — 2025-12-19 Lead Paragraph Over 84,000 individuals have fled to Burundi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in response to a Rwanda-backed rebel offensive near the border, according to the latest United Nations data.
The influx of refugees and asylum seekers has overwhelmed local resources, prompting the UNHCR to declare a critical situation in Burundi.
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The exodus began in early December when the M23 rebel group initiated an assault, culminating in the capture of Uvira, a strategically significant city in the DRC’s South Kivu province.
The refugees began crossing into Burundi on December 5, with numbers escalating following M23’s control of Uvira on December 10.
On Wednesday, M23 announced a withdrawal, following international condemnation of its attack on the city.
However, the Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya dismissed this as a diversion.
In Burundi, displaced families are facing arduous conditions at transit points and makeshift camps with minimal infrastructure.
The UN reported that many have sought shelter under trees without adequate protection from the elements, and there is a lack of clean water and proper sanitation.
The majority of those displaced are children under 18, along with numerous women, including pregnant individuals. Ezechiel Nibigira, the Burundian president of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), reported 25,000 refugees in Gatumba in western Burundi, and nearly 40,000 in Buganda in the northwest, most of them “completely destitute.”.
Augustin Minani, the administrator in Rumonge, described the situation as “catastrophic “and expressed concerns about the health of the refugees.
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The situation in Burundi is expected to worsen as the number of refugees continues to rise.
The UNHCR has called for immediate global support to address the humanitarian emergency. Further details regarding the withdrawal of M23 and the ongoing security situation in the region are expected.
