After suffering a humiliating defeat in Uvira, Burundian and Congolese officials closed the Uvira border. In reality, their coalition had been booted out of town and the entire world witnessed tens of thousands of genocidal militias like Wazalendo, FDLR along side Congolese and Burundian forces run for dear life. The closed the border, fell on their knees and prayed for M23 not to follow them into Burundian territory.
Uvira was very important to the Burundian regime. With Bujumbura constantly out of fuel, Uvira had become the most important alternative source of fuel given the regime of Evariste Ndayishimiye aka Gen. Neva’s utter failure to import enough fuel. Uvira was also the alternative source of foreign currencies for importers as Bujumbura is equally out of foreign reserve.
However, the heartless regime in Bujumbura noted an opportunity to “milk” the liberation of Uvira. They wanted to create a humanitairian crisis hoping for aid funds to flow.
For the crisis to succeed, Neva decided to for all refugees in camps without adequate shelter, water or food. He wanted scenes of misery and dismay to exploit. Fact is, the situation was so bad that Congolese refugees began to riot begging to be returned to Uvira. UNHCR officials, equally hoping for a new stream of income, also tried to force Congolese into refugehood.
Unfortunately, frustration reached boiling point and during a high level visit to Congolese refugees camps: Visitors were greated with a stone throwers and pancartes demanding to be repatriated. The Burundian Police responded with live bullets injuring many (Death toll data is closed guarded secret)
The European Union delegation had seen enough, they called out UNHCR, Congolese and Burundian officials to urgently organize repatriation. Neva caved and reopened the border. His plan to exploit humanitairian funds have crumbled. “Everything has changed now. We saw how cruel Ndayishimiye’s regime is. They just want to use Congo”, a refugee proclaimed.
Meanwhile, city dwellers are already in full scale jubilation that the Uvira border is now open. “We have no fuel in Burundi, now I can travel to Uvira for fuel and other basic commodities,” a taxi driver told us.
Tyrant Gen. Neva therefore begins the year with yet another round of humiliation. Against his will, and wishes, he has reopened the border.