Burundi : travelers turned back at the Kobero border for passports dtamped by the M23

SOS Médias Burundi

Muyinga, May 6, 2025 – Dozens of Burundian citizens have been stranded for several days at the Kobero border, in Muyinga Province (northeast Burundi), between Burundi and Tanzania, after having their travel documents confiscated by immigration authorities. The reason : a simple stamp affixed to their passports by the M23 armed movement, which currently controls several strategic locations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including Goma and Bukavu, the capitals of the North and South Kivu provinces, a region rich in minerals.

These are the documents deemed “suspicious.”

The concerned travelers, mostly traders and truckers from the DRC, claim to have transited through areas now under the control of the M23. Upon arrival in Kobero, their passports bearing the rebel movement’s stamp were immediately seized, without official explanation. Some passengers were simply turned away, while others were held without permission to cross the border.

“They took my passport, told me to move aside, and didn’t explain anything. I’ve been here for two days, sleeping outside,” said a young trader from Bujumbura, the commercial capital of Burundi, where UN agencies and the central administration are located.

Unequal treatment?

Travelers denounce discriminatory application of the rules : Congolese and other foreigners holding similar documents were allowed to continue their journeys unhindered. “Why are only Burundians treated this way?”, exclaims an indignant passenger, who says she crossed the Burundian-Congolese border at Gatumba without any problems a few days earlier.

Tense military context and security suspicions

This situation occurs in a climate of growing regional tensions. For over a year, the Burundian army has been engaged alongside the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) against the M23, as part of enhanced military cooperation. President Évariste Ndayishimiye has repeatedly described the M23 as a “terrorist group” supported by Rwanda, and denounced its actions as a threat to regional stability.

According to security sources in Kobero, some of the rejected passengers are suspected—without evidence being made public—of having links with the Burundian armed movement Red Tabara, or of being in possession of sensitive information regarding the Burundian military presence on the Congolese soil. Some of these fears are believed to be linked to the fear of people fleeing to Kigali, amid ongoing tensions between Bujumbura and the Rwandan regime.

Paralyzed transport and financial losses

The measure doesn’t just affect individual passengers. Many Burundian truck drivers are also affected. They are stuck in Kobero, forced to pay unexpected parking fees.

“We’re prevented from delivering our goods, we’re losing money every day. It’s unsustainable,” laments one driver.

Lost bus tickets, abandoned perishable goods, canceled contracts : the economic repercussions are already visible. Passengers are demanding official explanations and calling for compensation for their losses.

A confused situation and rising voices

While the administration remains silent, human rights defenders are calling for greater transparency and management that respects citizens’ rights.

“No Burundian should be deprived of their movement or official documents without a clear legal basis,” said a lawyer contacted by SOS Médias Burundi.

Pending official clarification, the situation in Kobero remains unclear, to the detriment of citizens caught between geopolitical issues and security suspicions.

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The Kobero border where several travelers are turned back for passports stamped by the M23 (SOS Médias Burundi)