Burundi Struggles to Accommodate Mass Influx of Congolese Refugees. Bujumbura, Burundi — 2025-12-11 Lead Paragraph. Thousands of Congolese refugees have recently arrived in Burundi, fleeing ongoing conflict between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in South Kivu.
The arrival of these refugees has strained Burundi’s humanitarian capacities, with new reception sites being established to manage the influx. Body.
The Rwanda — backed M23 rebels claimed control of the city of Uriva on Wednesday, prompting the exodus.
Living conditions at the Kansega transit site in Ndava zone, Bujumbura province, are described as dire, with refugees lacking access to basic amenities such as water, toilets, and shelter. Fidèle Edimbe, a father of three from Uvira, recounted the harrowing journey, losing his younger brother in the process.
Between 5 and 11 December, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) recorded 40,000 new arrivals.
These individuals are spread across three transit sites: Kansega, Cishemere, and Gatumba. UNHCR representative Brigitte Mukanga-Engo visited Kansega on 11 December and confirmed the dire conditions, emphasizing the need for urgent resource mobilization.
The government of Burundi is working with immigration services and ONPRA, the refugee agency, while also addressing the repatriation of Burundians who had been refugees in Congo.
With the increasing number of arrivals, UNHCR has announced the opening of a new refugee camp in Bweru, eastern Burundi.
As of this summer, Burundi had hosted over 71,000 Congolese refugees, including nearly 18,000 in the Musenyi camp alone. Ending.
The situation in Burundi continues to develop, with the government and international agencies working to provide aid and shelter to the growing number of refugees. Further details are expected as the situation unfolds.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
