Uganda Reopens Border with DR Congo Following M23 Seizure of Goma and Diplomatic Breakthrough
Uganda has reopened its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), six months after key crossings were closed due to escalating rebel activity in eastern Congo. The reopening follows the capture of Goma by the M23 rebel group, a development that had prompted the Ugandan government to shutter major entry points at Bunagana and Ishasha in North Kivu province.
The announcement was made by Chris Magezi, a senior military assistant, via social media on Monday. Magezi confirmed that the directive to reopen the border was issued by President Yoweri Museveni himself. He further indicated that individuals responsible for the initial closure, which disrupted trade and cross-border community relations, would be subject to investigation.
The move comes in the wake of a peace agreement signed in Washington, where officials from both Rwanda and the DRC pledged to support future negotiations between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group. The accord is viewed as a critical step toward stabilizing the volatile Great Lakes region.
The M23, predominantly composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters, re-emerged in late 2021 after years of dormancy. The group has launched a sustained offensive throughout 2024, capturing significant territory in eastern DRC, with Goma—one of the region’s most strategic urban centers—falling under its control.
Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Kigali of backing the insurgents with arms and personnel, a charge that Rwanda has consistently denied. However, the United States and other Western governments have lent credence to the DRC’s claims, citing what they describe as credible intelligence linking Rwanda to the rebel advance.
With the border now reopened and diplomatic channels reactivated, attention turns to the viability of peace negotiations. Analysts caution that progress will depend on a sustained international commitment to the peace process and a genuine readiness among parties to reach a political solution.
For now, the reopening of the Uganda-DRC border signals a tentative step toward regional de-escalation and renewed economic and humanitarian cooperation between neighboring communities long affected by the protracted conflict.