(260424) -- UVIRA, April 24, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A Burundian solider stands guard at the Kavimvira border post between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi near Uvira, DRC, on April 23, 2026. The first group of roughly 470 Congolese refugees in Burundi began returning voluntarily to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday, the United Nations refugee agency said.
Nearly 20,000 Congolese refugees have already registered for the voluntary repatriation program, UNHCR said, adding that returnees will receive financial assistance and support to help them reintegrate.
As of March 23, 2026, Burundi hosted about 109,000 Congolese refugees, including nearly 67,000 at the Busuma site alone, according to UNHCR. (Str/Xinhua)
