Deputy High Commissioner Dabo updates the Council on the DRC: The guns must fall silent - urgently

Mr. Vice-President

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I would like to begin by offering my deepest condolences for the tragic helicopter crash that killed 17 people on Friday 25 September in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Among the victims were the President of the High Military Court Joseph Mutombo Katalayi, and the auditor-general of the Congolese Armed Forces, Lucien-René Likulia.

Both had worked towards accountability for gross human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence. Their loss is deeply felt, and I hope the momentum to advance this important cause can be maintained.

Mr. President,

The people of the DRC are caught in a painful convergence of crises: the Ebola virus outbreak; decades of violent conflict and mass displacement; and competition over the exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

The Ebola virus outbreak – the largest and deadliest ever in DRC - continues to take a heavy toll, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. 

According to the latest figures, the outbreak has surpassed 8,000 confirmed cases, with more than 3,900 deaths.

The outbreak has further strained health systems, weakened by decades of conflict and chronic underinvestment in public services. Funding shortfalls and persistent insecurity are hampering efforts to reach communities, detect cases and trace contacts.

Long-standing grievances about public institutions and international aid groups are also affecting the health response.

Those trying to contain the disease are themselves under attack, often fuelled by misinformation about the virus.

As of 11 September 2026, our Office documented at least 36 death threats, attacks against healthcare personnel and facilities, and interference with burials. The recent killing of a politician after a radio appearance to raise awareness about Ebola is a sign of how deadly fear and misinformation can become.

Sustained engagement with communities, grounded in transparency, equity and respect for everyone’s rights, is essential to rebuilding trust.

Mr. Vice-President,

The security situation in eastern DRC remains extremely alarming.

Between 1 January and 15 September 2026, our [Office] documented approximately 4,400 human rights violations and abuses in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces, affecting some 9,500 victims. Violations include unlawful killings, restrictions on civic freedoms and violations and abuses of international humanitarian law.

The prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence is particularly worrying. Between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026, our Office documented at least 1,080 victims of conflict-related sexual violence across the country, primarily women and children.

This is nearly three documented victims of sexual violence per day – and the true figures are likely far higher.

Armed groups are reportedly responsible for 74 per cent of the victims.

Women and girls were attacked while going about their daily activities: in their homes, while working in their fields, in the bush, and along roads.

These crimes must end. Survivors need support and protection. And those responsible need to be held accountable.

Accountability is possible, even in war. With support from our Office, judicial authorities have conducted five joint investigation missions and held eight mobile court hearings on allegations of conflict-related sexual violence. This led to the conviction of 161 members of the Congolese armed forces, and 30 members of armed groups, among others. The authorities protected the identity of 620 women victims and witnesses during the trials.

The authorities need to build on these steps, and our Office is ready to assist.

In Ituri province and in parts of North Kivu, attacks against civilians by the Allied Democratic Forces continue, including abductions and sexual violence. Between 1 January and 15 September 2026, our Office attributed 319 human rights abuses to the ADF, affecting more than 1,500 victims.

In North Kivu and South Kivu, violent clashes have intensified since mid-September between the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces, and the Congolese armed forces, supported by Wazalendo groups. This escalation comes despite commitments made under the Doha and Washington peace processes, and African Union-led efforts.

According to the latest figures available, more than 6.1 million people are internally displaced across the country.

Mr. Vice-President,

The guns must fall silent - urgently.

People need to see an improvement in their daily lives – to be able to go to school, to work, and to meet their families, in safety.

All parties to the conflict need to ensure full respect for international human rights law and humanitarian law.

We reiterate our call on the Rwandan Government to withdraw its troops from the DRC and end its support to AFC/M23.

We also continue to urge that ongoing peace processes be anchored in human rights.

This means ensuring accountability for grave crimes. It also means integrating the legitimate aspirations of victims for truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees that the crimes will not happen again.

Our Office has shared a set of human rights-based confidence-building measures with the parties to the conflict and with the mediators under the Doha, Washington and AU-led peace processes.

They are practical, time-bound and verifiable actions to protect civilians and to create the conditions for peace to take root. They are intended to complement and strengthen existing initiatives, and our Office is ready to support.

For a chance at peace, people need to be able to speak freely, and to participate and hold those in power to account. Yet across the country, journalists, human rights defenders and political opponents continue to face arrests, intimidation and other attacks.

We welcome the announcement by the authorities that they intend to organize a national dialogue. This needs to be an inclusive process that addresses the underlying drivers of conflict, protects civic space, and helps to build sustainable peace.

To that end, the authorities need to ensure the meaningful participation of women, youth, civil society, human rights defenders, journalists and affected communities.

There needs to be a shared national vision for a society, and an economy that works for everyone, with revenues channeled into better healthcare, quality education and social protection for all.

Investing in human rights is essential for both peace and sustainable development. We call on member states to continue to support human rights in the DRC.

Mr. President,

There is a profound paradox between the DRC’s immense mineral wealth and the widespread poverty of its people.

Ruthless competition over natural resources and economic interests - both within and outside the country – continue to fuel the conflict in the east. Our Office is ready to support mandatory human rights impact assessments for major natural resource projects and investments.

The country’s resources should benefit the people of the DRC, not be exploited by self-serving foreign and domestic interests.

This requires accountability, governance reforms, tackling corruption and stronger institutions.

Thank you.