Congolese refugees return from Burundi to take advantage of improved security

RUYIGI, Burundi (AP) — Thousands of Congolese refugees in Burundi have returned to their homes across the border in eastern Congo following the withdrawal of Rwandan-backed rebels from a key town.

Some 470 people were in the latest batch to cross the border after fleeing violence in and around Uvira nearly four months ago. They sought shelter in the Busuma refugee camp in Burundi's Buhumuza province, and were among at least 33,000 Congolese who have returned home as of March, according to the U.N.

The M23 rebels, who last year seized wide areas of North and South Kivu on the border with Rwanda, later withdrew from Uvira farther south under international pressure.

U.S. President Donald Trump has emerged as a key peace facilitator as Washington tries to rally both countries to commit to a permanent ceasefire, while at the same time possibly paving way for American companies to gain access to Congo’s minerals, which are critical for much of the world’s technology from jets to mobile phones.

Thursday's repatriation event was overseen by a representative of the Congolese Embassy in Burundi. The event marked a happy moment for the refugees, who faced shortages of food and other items in the Busuma camp.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the operation would continue for weeks, with at least two bus convoys each week.

“I am happy, very joyful," said Hassan Masemo, who was among the returnees, adding he was also grateful to Burundian authorities for “reopening the border for us."

According to UNHCR, Burundi currently hosts more than 200,000 Congolese refugees, including 66,000 in the Busuma camp.

The camp was established in December 2025 to accommodate the Congolese fleeing the rebel advance on Uvira, which prompted Burundi to close the Gatumba border crossing. It reopened after M23 withdrew.

"This is being done only for those who are going straight to their homes, because for areas which are not yet safe for return, we are not going to organize the return," Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, the UNHCR representative in Burundi, said.

With the local government restored in Uvira, some refugees started returning voluntarily in March, which boosted the confidence of others who followed suit, she said.

Congo's mineral-rich east has been scourged by decades of unrest as government forces fight more than 100 armed groups, the most potent of which is M23.

Although neither Rwanda nor M23 have publicly acknowledged the presence of Rwandan troops fighting alongside the rebels, U.N. experts have reported evidence of their involvement. Rwanda frames its role as defensive measures to protect its territory from Hutu rebels responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Muhumuza contributed from Kampala, Uganda.

FILE - A man rides a bicycle on a street as people return to their homes in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

FILE -Internally displaced people (IDPs) fleeing fighting in Congo's South Kivu province arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Berthier Mugiraneza, File)

Norfolk Southern railroad's first-quarter profit fell 27% because it didn't collect big insurance payments related to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment and its planned merger with Union Pacific added to its costs.

The Atlanta-based railroad said Friday that it earned $547 million, or $2.43 per share. That's down from $750 million, or $3.31 per share, a year ago. The disastrous derailment in the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border has generally boosted earnings in recent quarters as the railroad collected insurance payments, but that wasn't the case this time, so it combined with planning costs related to the merger, the derailment reduced earnings per share by 22 cents.

Without those unusual costs, the railroad's profit would have beat Wall Street estimates. The analysts surveyed by FactSet Research predicted the railroad would earn $2.51 per share.

CEO Mark George said the railroad also dealt with the uncertain economy that reduced the shipments it delivered by 1%, along with severe weather and rapidly rising fuel costs.

“Despite these challenges, our employees safely delivered a solid service product, managed costs effectively, and earned the continued trust of our customers. As conditions improved, we captured momentum exiting the quarter, reinforcing the strength of our operating foundation and the dedication of the entire Norfolk Southern team,” George said.

The railroad's revenue was relatively flat at just under $3 billion. But its expenses jumped 15% compared to last year when insurance payments from the derailment added $185 million to Norfolk Southern's bottom line.

Norfolk Southern is working with Union Pacific to update its application to merge that the railroads plan to submit next Thursday. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected the railroad’s first request to approve the $85 billion merger because the regulators wanted more information. The STB hasn’t yet decided whether the deal that would cut the number of major freight railroads down to five will enhance competition.

Norfolk Southern operates trains all over the eastern United States. Combining with Union Pacific's network west of the Mississippi River would create the nation's first transcontinental railroad.

FILE - A Norfolk Southern freight train rolls past the U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, in Clairton, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)