UN warns of exceptional violence in eastern DRC

The eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are facing a crisis of unprecedented severity, according to an independent UN investigative panel that presented its findings in Geneva.

During a briefing on June 29, the commission disclosed harrowing evidence of sexual violence, unlawful executions, and forced child recruitment plaguing the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. These areas, rich in natural resources, have been mired in conflict for decades, particularly between government forces and the M23 armed group.

Civilians trapped in a spiral of violence

In a testimony to the Human Rights Council, the commission revealed alarming testimonies from residents describing a deteriorating humanitarian emergency. With weakened public institutions and intensifying clashes, civilians—especially women and children—are left unprotected and vulnerable.

“The information we’ve gathered paints a picture of exceptional gravity“, declared Arnauld Akodjenou, chair of the commission. He emphasized the panel’s receipt of disturbing accounts, including reports of sexual slavery, forced recruitment of minors, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and deliberate attacks on schools and hospitals.

Ongoing investigations amid ongoing threats

The commission, established by the Human Rights Council, is investigating alleged violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in the eastern DRC. While acknowledging its preliminary investigative phase, the panel stressed it cannot yet draw definitive conclusions about the scale or nature of the abuses.

However, it highlighted additional concerns, such as restrictions on humanitarian access, mistreatment in detention centers, and threats against human rights defenders and journalists documenting the abuses. The experts have called on all conflict parties to ensure safe, swift, and unhindered humanitarian access, urging Congolese authorities and the international community to support credible, independent investigations and bolster civilian protection.

“The suffering we’ve documented demands more than concern”, Akodjenou stated. “It requires sustained attention, thorough investigations, and a resolute global commitment to ending these atrocities.”