Burundian soldiers stood guard at the Kavimvira border post as more than 500 Burundian civilians crossed back into their country from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They had been trapped in eastern DR Congo after the M23 militia launched a new offensive in early December, disrupting movement along the frontier.
Shortly after a United States–brokered peace deal was signed in Washington, the M23 advanced and captured the town of Uvira in South Kivu. Control of Uvira has given the group command of the main land crossing with Burundi and cut DR Congo off from direct military support from its southern neighbour.
During a visit to the now-reopened border organised by the M23, the group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, sought to demonstrate that Burundian civilians could now cross safely. Long queues of men and women stretched back from the checkpoint as people waited to return home after days of uncertainty.
Many of those crossing described repeated displacement as fighting moved from one town to another. One man, who had fled intense clashes near Uvira and later from Sange towards the Burundian border, pushed an overloaded bicycle stacked with flour, solar panels and jerrycans while his young son sat on top. Others said they were returning despite fear and insecurity because they risked starving if they stayed away any longer.
The advance by M23 has deepened concern about a broader regional war in Africa’s Great Lakes region. UN peacekeeping chief Jean‑Pierre Lacroix warned that the latest gains by the group have revived fears of a regional escalation and even the potential fragmentation of DR Congo.
Along National Route 5, which links Kamanyola to Uvira, the impact of the offensive is visible. Burnt-out army trucks, discarded weapons, deserted villages and looted homes line a road that is normally busy but is now largely empty.
In the Ruzizi plain, small groups of displaced people walked on foot through the open landscape, carrying their belongings and hoping to reach their homes or relatives. Some, like a man searching for his three missing sisters, still did not know whether their loved ones had survived the chaos of flight.
Inside Uvira and its outskirts, daily life remains fragile. In Kavimvira, most shops and market stalls stayed closed as residents hurried home before nightfall while M23 fighters searched houses for Congolese or Burundian soldiers, allied militia members or hidden weapons.
Burundi had previously deployed about 18,000 troops to support Congolese forces against M23, but most have now withdrawn back across the border. Local residents say public transport is scarce, basic services are difficult to access and even finding drinking water can be a challenge.
Despite fear, some residents gathered for Sunday mass at Uvira’s cathedral to pray for peace and a lasting end to the violence. While a uneasy calm has returned inside the town, fighting continues roughly 15 kilometres to the south around Makobola, and M23 forces are reported to be pushing towards the towns of Baraka and Fizi.
Regional and international actors remain concerned that the militia’s continued advance, despite the recent peace efforts, could undermine the Washington agreement and destabilise a wider area of the Great Lakes region. For many civilians on both sides of the border, the priority is simply to reunite with family members and rebuild their shattered lives amid great uncertainty.
About the author
Thugs injure 10 PDP members in Ebonyi, as party seeks security probe
At least 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party were injured after hoodlums attacked a political gathering in Ikwuator Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The party has called for a security probe into the incident, while the APC has denied involvement. The attack reportedly occurred during a rally organised to welcome former APC member Ifeanyi Nworie into the PDP. Eyewitnesses said the event, first planned for a village square, was disrupted and later moved to Nworie’s private residence, where the assailants allegedly followed and attacked participants. Witnesses said chairs, canopies, a public address system and other property were damaged during the attack. Journalists covering the event were also reportedly assaulted on their way to the venue, with some alleging that their vehicle was targeted and nearly vandalised. The Ebonyi PDP condemned the attack, saying it was […]
How many African countries will qualify for Women’s World Cup through WAFCON?
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will decide Africa’s route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.punchng+2 The four semifinalists at WAFCON will qualify automatically for the World Cup. The two losing quarter-finalists with the best tournament records will move on to the FIFA inter-confederation playoffs, where they will try to secure the continent’s remaining spots. That means Africa is guaranteed at least four World Cup teams, and could have as many as six if both playoff representatives qualify. The tournament features 16 teams in four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
Tinubu’s administration ‘lying with statistics’ over economy, says Atiku
The former vice president said no amount of statistical presentation or creative accounting can hide what he described as the worsening state of the economy under President Bola Tinubu. In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed comments defending the administration’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, debt management and workers’ welfare initiatives. He argued that the government’s claim that subsidy savings are being used to reduce debt is contradicted by borrowing figures he said show federal exposure to the Central Bank of Nigeria rising sharply. Atiku said the Federal Government’s debt to the CBN rose from about ₦26.9tn in May 2023 to over ₦40.38tn by May 2026, describing the move as debt restructuring rather than debt repayment. He also said workers are yet to feel the benefits of subsidy savings, alleging that […]
Popular Juju singer Saint Janet is dead
The Nigerian entertainment industry is in mourning after the death of veteran Juju and Highlife singer Saint Janet, whose passing was announced on Sunday. According to publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies, Saint Janet died on Saturday after a brief illness. He described her as a popular performer known for her vibrant live shows, energetic stage presence and socially unfiltered party tracks. Saint Janet, born Iyun Janet Ajilore, was widely celebrated for her distinctive style and lively performances, which earned her a loyal following in Nigeria’s Juju music scene and beyond. As of the time of reporting, funeral arrangements had not been announced
US introduces $20,000 visa bond for Nigerians, others over overstay concerns
The United States says the new rule is aimed at curbing visa overstays and improving compliance among visitors from countries flagged for high overstay rates and weak identity or document verification systems. Under the policy, consular officers will decide whether an applicant must post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, depending on factors such as travel purpose, employment, income and ties to the home country. The bond will be refunded without interest if the visitor leaves the US within the approved period and complies with visa conditions, but it will be forfeited if the holder overstays or violates the terms of the visa. The policy formalises and expands a pilot programme launched in August 2025, which the US State Department says showed a sharp drop in overstays among affected applicants. It also said the pilot reduced demand significantly, […]
Flooding hits communities in four Yobe LGAs as SEMA begins assessment
Following heavy rainfall, floodwaters have submerged homes and farmlands in several Yobe communities, prompting SEMA to activate rapid assessment teams and pledge urgent life‑saving support and protection for affected residents. SEMA said its field team has been deployed to the flooded areas to conduct a detailed on‑the‑spot assessment of the damage, noting that no lives had been reported lost at the time of its initial statement. The agency stressed that the Yobe government has committed to providing immediate relief, including emergency shelter, food and basic services, once the assessment is completed. Officials explained that the assessment will cover households, critical infrastructure and farmlands across the four impacted LGAs, building on earlier flood‑preparedness measures such as real‑time river monitoring and digital community reporting platforms in high‑risk zones. Local Government Early Warning and Action Committees, already activated and trained, are working with […]
Related
Dangote’s heirs back plan to donate one-third of wealth to charity
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, plans to leave roughly one-third of his wealth to charitable causes, with his family publicly backing the arrangement, his daughter Halima Dangote has said. Halima Dangote, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, said the plan was important to her father and had already been discussed with the family. She disclosed that Dangote asked his three daughters and his mother to sign the will so that 33% of his wealth could be committed to “humanity Reports estimate the amount involved at more than $11 billion to $12 billion, based on Dangote’s current net worth of about $35 billion to $36.5 billion. The plan is said to align with Islamic inheritance principles and reflect Dangote’s long-standing belief that giving back is part of business success.africa. The donation would further strengthen the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which already […]
Xenophobia: Minister meets S’African envoy after Tinubu snub
Tinubu had been expected to hold talks with the special envoy sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa, but Presidency sources said he directed the team to meet Enikanolaiye instead, in what has been widely interpreted as a diplomatic snub. The President’s stance follows fresh outbreaks of violence in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have been targeted in what Abuja describes as “Afrophobic attacks”.naijanews+4 During Monday’s meeting in Abuja, Enikanolaiye delivered a strong message on behalf of the Nigerian government, demanding urgent and concrete action from Pretoria to stop recurring assaults on its citizens. He told Lamola that official records show at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related incidents in South Africa since 2022, and accused local authorities of failing to adequately prosecute perpetrators or dismantle networks behind the violence.nairametrics+1 The minister also raised concerns […]
Egypt moves closer to nuclear power as El Dabaa project offers lessons for Nigeria’s energy ambitions
Egypt is moving closer to becoming a nuclear power nation as construction work on the El Dabaa nuclear project continues to gather pace. The project is Egypt’s first nuclear power plant and is being built at El Dabaa in Matrouh Governorate, about 320 kilometres northwest of Cairo.world-nuclear+1 The plant will have four VVER-1200 reactors and is expected to generate about 4,800 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply a significant share of the country’s power needs.wikipedia+2 Officials say the first reactor is expected to begin commercial operation around 2028, while the remaining units should come on stream by 2029 or 2030.wikipedia+2 The El Dabaa project has also become a reference point for other African countries, including Nigeria, as they search for reliable ways to close their power deficit and strengthen energy security.undp+2 For Nigeria, the project highlights the importance of long-term […]
Nigeria, Ghana slam South Africa’s xenophobic, Afrophobic violence
Nigeria and Ghana have condemned the recent xenophobic and Afrophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa, describing the attacks as a threat to continental unity and integration. The position was reached during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Both countries said such violence runs against the ideals of Pan-Africanism and undermines the free movement of people across Africa. They called for urgent and coordinated regional and continental action to address the root causes of the violence, protect migrants and promote peaceful coexistence. Nigeria and Ghana also agreed to work with other African countries to place Afrophobia on the agenda of the next African Union summit and strengthen monitoring, early warning and preventive […]
Nigeria, Morocco agree deal on agricultural intelligence, food security
Nigeria and Morocco have agreed to deepen cooperation on agricultural intelligence and food security through a new technology driven partnership. A high level Nigerian delegation has been sent to Morocco to finalise the arrangement, which will support the development of Nigeria’s first National Agro-Productivity System. The initiative is designed to provide real time data on crop location, land availability, yield projections and food security threats across the country. According to officials, the shared geospatial platform will help federal, state and local governments make better decisions on crop planning, agribusiness investment and early warning for food supply risks. The partnership is expected to be formalised with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Nigeria’s PFSCU, OCP Africa and Ground Truth Analytics. Phase one of the project will begin with a six month pilot in three states before wider rollout.
UK man wanted for triple murder arrested in South Africa
A British man wanted in the United Kingdom for the murder of his wife and two daughters has been arrested in South Africa.punchng+1 The suspect, identified as Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, was picked up in Kensington, Johannesburg, following a joint operation by the South African Police Service, Interpol and other specialised units.ewn+1 Tshuma, a UK citizen of Zimbabwean origin, is accused of killing his wife, 42-year-old Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, at their home near Bedford, England.punchng+1 Their bodies were discovered after police forced entry into the house when neighbours raised concerns that the family had not been seen for several days.punchng The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has authorised three counts of murder against Tshuma and confirmed that he will be prosecuted over the deaths of his family members.punchng South African authorities said […]