A total of 42,982 Congolese that had fled to neighbouring Burundi have reportedly returned to their homes in South Kivu province, DRC, Taarifa investigative Desk has learned.

Jacquemain Shabani the Interior Minister revealed the statistics to the Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday.

Their return was made possible after the reopening of the Kamvivira border post. The refugees effectively crossed back to their homes in South Kivu Province.

“Since the reopening of Kamvivira border on February 23, the statistics of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) indicate 42,982 refugees have returned to the country,” he said.

Burundi has shouldered the burden of hosting largest number of Congolese fleeing from the ongoing war between the AFC/M23 rebels and Congolese troops supported by Burundian army and Wazalendo militia in Eastern DRC.

Congolese government delegation, presided over the border reopening ceremony also marking the resumption of cross-border trade, after several months of closure due.

The border was reopened following Intense shuttle diplomacy conducted by Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management and Equality.

Hadja Lahbib concluded her humanitarian mission in the Great Lakes region in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, where she was received on February 20, by AFC/M23 rebel leaders, led by their political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa.

In Kinshasa, Bujumbura, Kigali, and Goma, Hadja Lahbib delivered a consistent message: calling for strict adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.