Ruzizi : two more deaths, victims of the migration chaos between Burundi and the DRC

Burundi, November 20, 2025 — The spiral of clandestine crossings between Burundi and the DRC continues to claim victims. Two people who departed from Bujumbura were found dead on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in the Ruzizi River, on the border between the two countries. This tragedy adds to a long series of fatal incidents that illustrate the persistent migration chaos, fueled by travel restrictions, insecurity, and the closure of several official border crossings.

Two lifeless bodies were discovered around 1 p.m. near the Ruzizi River, in the town of Kamanyola, South Kivu. The grim discovery was made by residents living near the river.

According to several witnesses, the two victims left Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, intending to cross the border clandestinely along the Ruzizi River. The exact reasons for their attempt remain unknown, but local residents say that these risky crossings have increased since the tightening of migration restrictions and the closure of several border posts.

According to initial reports, the victims were a Congolese woman and a Burundian man who was accompanying her to facilitate her crossing. They reportedly tried to reach Kamanyola before continuing on to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, currently under the control of the M23 rebels—a former Tutsi rebel group that resumed hostilities in late 2021, accusing Kinshasa of failing to honor its commitments regarding their reintegration.

“Today, we Congolese feel like we’re being treated like merchandise in the migration process,” testifies a Congolese man living in Bujumbura, speaking on condition of anonymity. “To go to Bukavu or Goma, you have to pay $50 for a temporary travel document at the embassy, ​​then take a long detour through Tanzania and Rwanda. It’s become very complicated since the Uvira-Bukavu road was closed due to the war between the M23 and the Congolese army. Before, it was easy to go through Kavimvira or Ruzizi to reach Bukavu or Goma.”

Deeply affected by the young woman’s death, the witness continues :

“We just lost a sister because she couldn’t use a legal route. I urge our fellow citizens to use official channels. No emergency is worth risking your life for.”

This tragedy is unfortunately not an isolated incident. Drownings are regularly reported along this border, as the Ruzizi River is known for its extremely dangerous currents. Furthermore, residents claim that some travelers disappear or are attacked while attempting to cross illegally. Recurring allegations also mention attacks perpetrated by armed individuals, both on the Burundian and Congolese sides.