Marine vessels are now allowed to navigate lake Tanganyika after weeks of lull following the fall of Uvira City to the AFC/M23 rebels who later unilaterally pulled out.
The rebels have since withdrawn, allowing the resumption of lake-based activities.
This decision to reopen traffic on the lake was announced Tuesday by the governors of South Kivu and Tanganyika, was also relayed in Fizi by the territory administrator.
“The activities previously suspended on Lake Tanganyika included public transport, shuttles leaving the Fizi territory for Tanzania or Burundi, goods leaving Burundi for the Fizi territory, or even goods from Uvira to Kalemie. There are boats that transported people and that are authorized to resume on Lake Tanganyika,” said Samy Badibanga, administrator of the Fizi territory.
During the lake traffic suspension, at least two boats were intercepted by the army and the wazalendo in Fizi, in order to combat rebel infiltration.
Lake Tanganyika links the DRC to Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia.
