‘An unprecedented influx’: the EU responds to the Burundi–DR Congo border crisis

A renewed offensive by the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo's South Kivu province has displaced around 500,000 people, and driven tens of thousands across the border into Burundi, overwhelming fragile transit sites and stretching already limited humanitarian resources. The Rwandan-backed movement, which relaunched its insurgency in 2022 and has since captured swathes of the mineral-rich east, says it is motivated by longstanding grievances with the government in the capital, Kinshasa. Its renewed offensive has fuelled a fresh wave of displacement and added another chapter to one of Africa's most protracted and destabilising conflicts. We spoke to Giorgia Pianelli, who helps oversee the EU's humanitarian programmes in DR Congo and the Great Lakes region, who has just returned from a field mission in Burundi.

What did you see on the ground?

We visited several crossing points and the Ndava transit centre, a new facility established by the Burundian authorities near the border with South Kivu, where we met people who had fled intense fighting in DR Congo's northern South Kivu province and the Uvira area. Many had walked for 3 or 4 days and were completely exhausted and dehydrated. What struck us immediately was how many children were among them - around half of the people we met were under 18. There were also many women, including pregnant women, all in urgent need of assistance.

What kind of dangers and trauma have these families experienced?

Many described witnessing bombings and shelling in their villages. Some saw relatives killed during the attacks. Others had to leave elderly family members behind on the journey because they simply couldn't continue walking. People arrived extremely distressed. Even now, across the border in Burundi, many still fear for their safety. The trauma is deep and it is clear that they do not expect to return home anytime soon.

What assistance is currently available at the transit center?

Support is only just beginning to scale up. A clinic just opened on Wednesday (10 December) and a few of the EU's humanitarian partners are starting to provide first-line assistance; things like water and basic food items. But the situation is very challenging. Burundi was already hosting thousands of Congolese refugees from earlier influxes, and existing camps and sites are overcrowded, while humanitarian funding and capacity are limited.

You mentioned seeing large numbers of people still arriving. Can you describe that scene?

It was astonishing. Near the Burundian capital Bujumbura, we saw dense crowds along the border area and a continuous column of people walking - families carrying luggage, bundles, even pieces of shelter they had used previously. Many of these refugees were already internally displaced within Congo before being forced to flee again. They brought what little they had left.

Do we know how many people have crossed into Burundi so far?

Current estimates put the figure at around 60,000, though the true number is difficult to determine. Many people continue to cross outside official entry points and via Lake Tanganyika, while large groups remain internally displaced on the Congolese side and attempt to cross due to ongoing M23 fighting. Counting is extremely challenging given the scale and continuity of the influx, combined with limited response capacity.

How would you describe the overall humanitarian situation?

Dramatic and fast-evolving. Needs are huge and response capacities are still very limited. People are traumatised, health concerns are rising and many children are arriving sick and malnourished. We are continuing to monitor the numbers closely and working with partners to strengthen the response. But it is clear that this crisis is far from over.

How is the EU helping?

• In 2025, the European Union is the largest humanitarian aid donor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• The EU has also provided emergency support to the regional refugee crisis, including €3 million for supporting the Congolese refugees fleeing into Burundi.
• In total, the EU provided €129 million in humanitarian funding for the African Great Lakes region.