Repatriation of Congolese Refugees from Burundi Begins After M23 Withdrawal from Uvira

Apr 24, 2026, 11:24

Introduction

A repatriation operation for thousands of Congolese refugees in Burundi has begun after the withdrawal of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels from the strategic town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is coordinating the return of individuals who fled violence nearly four months ago.

Main Body

The latest group of returnees, numbering about 470 people, crossed the border into eastern Congo after staying at the Busuma refugee camp in Burundi''s Buhumuza province. According to UN data, at least 33,000 Congolese refugees had returned home by March. The M23 rebel group, which had captured large areas in North and South Kivu provinces along the Rwandan border over the past year, later withdrew from Uvira under international pressure. The repatriation event on Thursday was supervised by a representative of the Congolese Embassy in Burundi. The UNHCR stated that the operation would continue for several weeks, with at least two bus convoys scheduled each week. Hassan Masemo, a returnee, expressed gratitude to Burundian authorities for reopening the border. Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, the UNHCR representative in Burundi, said that returns were being organized only for people going directly to their homes, as areas considered unsafe would not be included. She noted that the return of local government in Uvira had led to voluntary returns starting in March, which then increased confidence among other refugees. The Busuma camp was established in December 2025 to house those fleeing the rebel advance on Uvira, an event that caused Burundi to close the Gatumba border crossing. The crossing reopened after the M23 withdrawal. Burundi currently hosts over 200,000 Congolese refugees, including 66,000 in the Busuma camp. The larger situation involves decades of unrest in Congo''s mineral-rich east, where government forces face more than 100 armed groups, with M23 considered the most powerful. Although neither Rwanda nor M23 have openly admitted the presence of Rwandan troops alongside the rebels, UN experts have documented evidence of such involvement. Rwanda describes its actions as defensive measures to protect its territory from Hutu rebels involved in the 1994 genocide. U.S. President Donald Trump has become a peace mediator, with Washington seeking to achieve a lasting ceasefire while possibly allowing American companies to access Congo''s critical minerals.

Conclusion

The repatriation of Congolese refugees from Burundi is proceeding in phases, depending on security conditions in their home areas. The operation reflects a temporary stabilization after the M23 withdrawal, though the underlying conflict in eastern Congo remains unresolved.

Vocabulary Learning

ceasefire
An agreement to stop fighting temporarily停火
Example:Washington is seeking to achieve a lasting ceasefire in the region.
coordinating
Organizing and managing activities or people to work together effectively協調
Example:The UNHCR is coordinating the return of individuals who fled violence.
repatriation
The process of sending someone back to their own country遣返
Example:The repatriation of Congolese refugees from Burundi has begun after the M23 withdrawal.
returnees
People who have returned to their home country after living elsewhere回國者
Example:The latest group of returnees, numbering about 470 people, crossed the border into eastern Congo.
withdrawal
The act of moving troops or forces away from a place撤軍
Example:The M23 withdrawal from Uvira allowed the border to reopen.

Sentence Learning

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is coordinating the return of individuals who fled violence nearly four months ago.
This sentence uses a defining relative clause ('who fled violence nearly four months ago') to specify exactly which individuals are being returned. The clause is essential to identify the group.這個句子使用限定性關係從句（'who fled violence nearly four months ago'）來具體說明正在被遣返的是哪些人。這個從句對於識別該群體是必需的。
The repatriation event on Thursday was supervised by a representative of the Congolese Embassy in Burundi.
The passive voice is used here to highlight the repatriation event itself and who supervised it. The agent is introduced with 'by'. This structure is common in formal reporting to focus on the action.此處使用被動語態（'was supervised'）來強調遣返活動本身以及由誰監督。施動者通過'by'引入。這種結構在正式報導中常見，以突出動作本身。
She noted that the return of local government in Uvira had led to voluntary returns starting in March, which then increased confidence among other refugees.
The relative pronoun 'which' refers to the whole idea that voluntary returns started in March. This non-defining clause provides additional information about the effect of those returns.關係代詞'which'指代整個前一句的意思，即自願遣返從三月開始。這個非限定性從句提供了關於這些遣返所產生影響的額外信息。
Although neither Rwanda nor M23 have openly admitted the presence of Rwandan troops alongside the rebels, UN experts have documented evidence of such involvement.
'Although' is used to show a contrast between two facts: the lack of admission and the existence of evidence. It helps organize the idea by presenting opposing information.'Although'用於顯示兩個事實之間的對比：缺乏承認與存在證據。它有助於通過呈現相反信息來組織觀點。
The operation reflects a temporary stabilization after the M23 withdrawal, though the underlying conflict in eastern Congo remains unresolved.
'Though' is used to introduce a contrast to the main clause. It indicates that despite the temporary stabilization, the deeper conflict continues. This structure helps show a nuanced situation.'Though'用於引入與主句對比的內容。它表明儘管有暫時的穩定，但深層衝突仍在繼續。這種結構有助於展示細微差別的情況。