Appalling condition in western RC as rebel groups increase incursions

UNITED NATIONS, United States

An increasingly volatile situation — driven by resurgent incursions by rebel militia groups — is killing and displacing civilians in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Head of the United Nations Mission in that country warned the Security Council Thursday March 27.

“The political and security context remains very tense.” said Bintou Keita, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in that country and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). 

In the country’s east, the Congo River Alliance and M23 supported by the Rwanda Defence Force are consolidating control over the province of South Kivu, threatening to expand into the provinces of Tshopo and Maniema and installing a parallel administration. 

“All parties must honour their stated commitment to silence the guns and pursue a peaceful solution.” she stressed.

Meanwhile, the overall security situation in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri — where over 60 per cent of MONUSCO forces are deployed — remains volatile. 

The Allied Democratic Forces have exploited the security vacuum created by the redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to launch attacks killing hundreds of civilians.  Further, clashes between the Coalition of Congolese Democrats and Zaïre armed groups have escalated in Ituri. 

According to Keita, the human-rights situation is also deteriorating, with abuses against civilians — including summary executions — and the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 8.2 per cent funded.

In this challenging context, she said, MONUSCO remains fully committed to its mandate, protecting civilians and facilitating Government-led consultations with armed groups. 

However, the dramatic deterioration of the security situation has seriously impacted discussions between MONUSCO and Congolese authorities on the gradual disengagement of the Mission and the transition in South Kivu. 

Reiterating that lasting peace in the east can only be achieved through a political solution, she called for the urgent reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports — lifelines for humanitarian efforts and key to the rotation of MONUSCO troops.

Also addressing the Council was Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, who said that her organization has been “racing to respond to the erratic and constant movement of internally displaced persons seeking safety” since the end of January. 

The recent explosion of violence in and around Goma has exacerbated the already-dire humanitarian situation in the east and led to 660,000 people being forcibly displaced — in addition to the 6.7 million already displaced across the country at the end of 2024.  

“With little notice, families were kicked out of their shelters, forced to leave with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.” she said.

Detailing the appalling living conditions in makeshift camps, churches and schools, she noted widespread looting, shootings, rampant sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and reports of boys and men being forced to join armed groups.  

“One person told us they wake each morning to find new dead bodies on the streets.” she recalled, adding that 98 per cent of her organization’s case management for human-rights violations has been for rape. 

And, while humanitarian work is under extreme pressure due to recent funding cuts, the displacement crisis will only worsen.  Stressing the need to ensure safe and voluntary return for internally displaced persons, she also called on the Council to ensure humanitarian access across the country.