Civilians return as M23 seizes key DR Congo border town
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 […]