00:00They had been waiting for two months for the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi to reopen.
00:07Burundi had ordered its closure after the takeover of Uvira by the M23 rebels.
00:12But on Monday at dawn, hundreds of traders and families were finally able to cross the border again.
00:19I am very happy because for a long time we were looking for a way to return home, but it
00:24was not possible.
00:24We were forced to remain stuck in the neighboring country, Burundi.
00:31According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the advance of the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, in South Kivo
00:38province had led to a stream of Congolese refugees into Burundi.
00:43On Monday, some of them finally began returning to Uvira.
00:51I fled when the fighting intensified towards Kavimvira.
00:55We were at home with the children when the sound of gunfire and bombs began.
00:59That's when we decided to flee to Burundi, so as to not become victims.
01:06Every day, hundreds of people cross through the Kavimvira and Gatumba border posts to trade or reunite with relatives.
01:14The month's long stop in this activity weakened many inhabitants financially.
01:20The reopening of the border is a great joy for us and for all the residents of Uvira, because evening
01:25at Tumba there is a celebration, with motorcycles and bicycles moving around.
01:29I even saw students leaving their schools to come celebrate at the border.
01:35Announced Sunday by the Governor of South Kivu, this reopening marks an important step for Uvira, still affected by the
01:42security crisis.
01:44For residents, the priority now is that the border remains open and that lasting stability finally takes hold.
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