More than 33,000 Congolese refugees have crossed back into the Democratic Republic of Congo from Burundi since the border reopened on February 23, entering zones where infrastructure has been leveled and essential services remain non-existent. This mass movement occurs against a backdrop of intensifying combat between government forces and rebel coalitions, including the M23 and AFC groups, which have pushed violence closer to the Burundi frontier. While the reopening of the Kavimira border point allowed for the return of displaced populations, United Nations officials warn that the security environment inside the DRC has deteriorated significantly over the past month.
Vivian van de Perre, the Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), characterized the situation during a press stakeout on March 26 as “extremely volatile.” Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters, van de Perre outlined how hostilities previously contained within North and South Kivu provinces are rapidly spreading into Tshopo Province. She cautioned that this geographic expansion increases the probability of a broader regional conflagration, drawing neighboring states further into the conflict.
Combat tactics have evolved alongside the geographic spread of the violence. Armed militants have increasingly deployed heavy weaponry and drone strikes within densely populated urban centers, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Recent incidents have targeted critical transport hubs, including the Kisagani Bangoka International Airport and areas within Goma, the largest city in North Kivu. According to van de Perre, the M23 coalition has solidified its presence in Goma, where it has managed to undermine state authority and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations.
Surge in Human Rights Violations
Parallel to the military escalation, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC (UNJHRO) has documented a sharp rise in abuses committed by armed groups. Since December 2025, monitors have recorded approximately 173 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. These incidents have affected at least 111 victims, the majority of whom are women and girls. Van de Perre described these documented figures as “only the tip of the iceberg,” suggesting the actual scale of abuse is likely higher due to barriers in reporting.
Exploitation has also intensified around artisanal mining sites, where rates of child labor have become particularly pronounced. Armed factions are alleged to be actively hampering monitoring, investigation, and justice mechanisms designed to address these crimes. Human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society actors face heightened risks of intimidation and arbitrary detention, creating an environment where accountability mechanisms are increasingly tough to enforce.
Humanitarian Conditions for Returnees
The influx of returnees follows a sharp escalation of hostilities in December 2025, which initially forced hundreds of thousands of Congolese to flee to Burundi, primarily from Uvira in South Kivu Province and surrounding areas. Following the withdrawal of M23 forces from Uvira in January and a relative return of stability, families began crossing back into the DRC. However, many of these returnees had received little humanitarian assistance while in Burundi due to chronic underfunding of support programs.
Ali Mahamat, the UNHCR Head of Sub-Office in Goma, addressed the press on March 24 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, noting that conditions in many areas of return remain fragile with acute humanitarian needs. Initial assessments conducted by the UNHCR in Uvira and Fizi indicate that families are arriving with few belongings. They are in urgent need of shelter, basic household items, health care, and access to water and sanitation. Many returnees have arrived to locate their homes destroyed and belongings looted, leaving them in deep despair and unable to resume normal life without substantial external support.
Data from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) indicates that roughly 60 percent of returnees are currently living in damaged shelters. Over 30 percent face challenges accessing their land, complicating efforts to restart agricultural livelihoods. Returnees face heightened risks of gender-based violence, forced recruitment into armed groups, extortion, and exploitation. Female-headed households are disproportionately affected due to limited livelihood opportunities for women, a dynamic that leaves these communities entrenched in poverty and especially vulnerable.
Displacement and Camp Overcrowding
Figures from the UNHCR show that approximately 30 percent of the recent returnees had been taking refuge in Burundi’s Busama displacement camp. In that location, they faced significant levels of overcrowding and limited access to clean water, sanitation services, healthcare, and shelter. Currently, roughly 4,500 Congolese refugees remain stuck at transit points as they await being relocated to Busama. Burundi continues to host over 109,000 Congolese refugees, with 67,000 of them located in Busuma alone.
Internal displacement remains widespread within the DRC itself, with more than 6.4 million people currently displaced across the country. The IFRC estimates that over 5.2 million internally displaced Congolese are concentrated in North and South Kivu, as well as Ituri, with 96 percent of these displacements resulting from ongoing armed violence. According to van de Perre, over 26.6 million people, roughly a quarter of the DRC’s total population, are projected to face food insecurity this year.
Funding Gaps and Operational Constraints
The international response to the crisis is currently hampered by significant financial shortfalls. The UNHCR’s response plan to assist returnees, refugees, and displaced Congolese civilians is only 34 percent funded, despite seeking a total of USD 145 million. On the ground, MONUSCO is currently on the frontlines providing protection services for nearly 3,000 civilians in Djaiba village. Through the mission, the UN has been able to support over 18,000 farmers in harvesting and transporting crops and has conducted 204 patrols to monitor security conditions.
Van de Perre stressed that stronger governance and security enforcement are crucial in protecting vulnerable civilians. She indicated that disarmament and repatriation efforts must be conducted to resolve broader regional tensions. Until these security guarantees are established and funding gaps are addressed, the safety of returnees and the stability of the border region remain precarious.
