We Want to Return Home: Congo’s Forgotten War Drives Refugees into Burundi
When the bombs began falling on his village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alex did not hesitate. He gathered his family and ran. «We left to save our lives», he says quietly. «When a bomb explodes next to you, you do not think about your belongings. You think only about surviving.» Once a school teacher in South Kivu province, Alex now lives in a refugee settlement in Burundi, part of a growing wave of Congolese fleeing renewed violence in eastern Congo. His story is one among millions in what many describe as «Africa’s forgotten war.»
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of Africa’s largest countries, home to nearly 100 million people and vast natural wealth. Beneath its soil lie some of the world’s most valuable strategic minerals: coltan, cobalt, tin, tungsten and gold, essential components in smartphones, electric vehicles, computers and military equipment. But that wealth has long been at the center of conflict. For more than three decades, eastern Congo has been plagued by armed violence linked to the control of mining areas. The instability has devastated communities, displaced families and claimed countless civilian lives.
Since 2025, the March 23 Movement (M23) has seized key cities in the Kivu region, including Goma and Bukavu. Alongside the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), the group has expanded its presence across strategic territories. Among them is Rubaya, a mining town in North Kivu province that accounts for an estimated 15% of global coltan production. Control over such sites provides armed groups with significant revenue to finance their operations. The Congolese government and international observers have accused Rwanda of supporting M23. The regional tensions have added a geopolitical dimension to an already complex and deadly conflict.
The Human Cost of Mineral Wealth
In eastern Congo, mineral extraction is often carried out through artisanal and informal mining. Men, women and even children dig by hand, working long hours without protective equipment. The risks are constant. In late January, a landslide at the Rubaya mining site reportedly killed around 200 people, according to local sources. Heavy rains triggered the collapse while miners were underground, burying them beneath tons of earth. Such tragedies are not isolated. With few alternative livelihoods available, many congolese accept the dangers in exchange for meager pay often barely enough to feed their families. Some children as young as 12 are involved in carrying heavy sacks of extracted minerals.
The violence has triggered one of the largest displacement crises in the world. According to the United Nations, more than 8.2 million people are internally displaced within Congo a figure projected to rise to 9 million by the end of 2026. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) reports that over 1.2 million Congolese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, particularly Burundi and Uganda.
Despite at least seven peace agreements since 1999 beginning with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement stability remains elusive. More recent diplomatic efforts in Doha and Washington in 2025 have also failed to produce lasting security on the ground. Civilians continue to pay the price.
Flight into uncertainty and life in the refugee Camp
Alex remembers the day his life changed. Explosions first struck near his home in South Kivu. Him and his family initially fled to Sange, hoping the violence would subside. It did not. «The bombs kept coming,» he recalls. «People were dying. We had no choice but to cross the border.» The journey to Burundi was made on foot. The family walked toward the Rusizi River, which forms part of the border between the two countries. «There was no assistance on the way,» he says. «Everyone had to manage on their own.» They arrived with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
In a transit camp of Cishembe in Burundi, Alex encountered overcrowding and scarce resources. New arrivals received a one-time food distribution rice, beans and oil meant to last one week. «We were told it was for one week,» he says. «But after that, nothing followed.» Shelter was limited. Many lacked blankets and tarpaulins despite cold nights. Although drinking water was available, medical care appeared insufficient. Alex recounts the case of an injured girl whose transfer to hospital required pressure from fellow refugees. Psychological support, he says, is largely absent.
But what troubles him most is the disruption to children’s education. «There is no school in the camp. Since we arrived, the children have not studied. The future of young people is being destroyed,» he adds. He does not dream of building a new life abroad, Alex dreams of going home. «If peace is restored, we will go back immediately,» he says. «We can lack food, but let us be in our own homes.»
Yet insecurity persists in parts of South Kivu, despite repeated diplomatic announcements. Armed groups remain active, and guarantees of safety are uncertain. He also worries about documentation. Refugees’ identification cards were collected during border registration and have not yet been returned. «How will we go back without identification?» he asks.
For now, Alex waits in Burundi, hoping that political agreements will translate into real peace on the ground. His message is simple: «We want to return home and live in peace.» He calls on international actors including the United Nations and regional governments to ensure that diplomatic agreements translate into real security improvements on the ground. «We hear about decisions and sanctions,» he says, «but on the ground, nothing changes.»
*Adolphe Mulengezi, giornalista