Democratic Republic of the Congo
In early 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a human rights and humanitarian catastrophe that is being described as one of the most neglected and protracted crises in modern history. The landscape is dominated by the rapid expansion of armed conflict in the east, which has led to war crimes, mass displacement, and a total collapse of basic services.
1. Escalation of Conflict in Eastern Congo
The security situation in North and South Kivu has reached a breaking point in early 2026 following the capture of major cities, including Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira, by the Rwanda-backed M23 (now part of the Congo River Alliance/AFC).
War Crimes and Atrocities: A UN Fact-Finding Mission in late 2025 and early 2026 documented systematic summary executions, enforced disappearances, and torture. The M23 and other groups like the ADF and NDC-R have been accused of "breaking the dignity" of the population through planned campaigns of violence.
Impunity for Armed Groups: Over 250 armed groups are active in the region. These groups finance their operations through illegal taxation rackets and the forced labor of civilians in mining areas, often with the complicity of local military officials.
2. Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV)
Sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war at an "alarming" scale in 2026.
Weaponization of Rape: Armed groups and government forces have been implicated in mass gang rapes and sexual slavery. In January 2026, reports emerged of a horrific pattern of "prison mass rape" at the Makala Prison following a failed escape attempt.
Collapse of Care: Due to severe funding cuts from international donors (including the U.S.), many clinics in eastern Congo have run out of PEP kits (post-exposure prophylaxis), meaning survivors often lose the 72-hour window to prevent HIV infection.
3. Record-Breaking Internal Displacement
The DRC has the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa, and one of the highest globally.
Massive Numbers: As of early 2026, more than 7.3 million people are internally displaced. Host families, who are already impoverished, are often the only line of support as formal camps reach a point of "unmanaged overflow."
Humanitarian Neglect: The UN launched an appeal for $1.4 billion in January 2026 to address these needs, but chronic underfunding has forced agencies to prioritize only the most life-threatening cases, leaving roughly half of the 15 million people in need without assistance.
4. Mining Exploitation and Forced Evictions
The global demand for "transition minerals" like cobalt and copper continues to drive domestic human rights abuses.
Forced Displacement for Cobalt: In the Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces, industrial mining expansions have led to the destruction of entire neighborhoods. In early 2026, thousands of families in Kolwezi reported being evicted without fair compensation or legal recourse.
Child Labor: Despite government "green-washing" campaigns, child labor remains prevalent in artisanal mines, where children as young as seven are exposed to toxic dust and structural collapses for meager wages.
5. Repression of Civic Space and "State of Siege"
The government has used the security crisis to justify a prolonged "state of siege" (martial law) in Ituri and North Kivu.
Death Penalty Resumption: After a 20-year moratorium, the government officially resumed executions in 2024–2025. In early 2026, a military court sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia on politically motivated charges of "treason."
Targeting Journalists and Activists: Pro-democracy movements like LUCHA (Lutte pour le Changement) have seen many of their leaders arrested for "contempt of the army" after criticizing the military’s failure to stop rebel advances.