Goma–Bukavu: 17,015 cases of human rights violations recorded in a report

Kinshasa, February 22^nd, 2026 (CPA).- A total of 17,015 cases of violations of the right to life and physical integrity were recorded on Saturday at the close in Kinshasa of the drafting work on the report concerning the human rights situation in Goma and Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, areas occupied by the M23-AFC. According to the Minister in charge of Human Rights, Samuel Mbemba, the report documents at least 15,769 cases of violations of the right to life and physical integrity, 829 cases of abduction, and 417 cases of torture and other inhuman treatment. He specified that this grim picture was established by experts from the Ministry of Human Rights, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH-RDC) and several civil society organizations. He added that these acts of violence also resulted in massive forced displacement of civilian populations, estimated at 7,000,400 internally and externally displaced persons, as well as attacks on private property. Closing the evaluation and report-drafting workshop, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa noted that the work took place in a particularly worrying security context. She stated that the objective of the workshop was to document serious human rights violations committed by Rwanda in the areas under occupation for the past year, notably Goma, Bukavu and surrounding territories. The Head of Government stressed that the report is of critical importance at a decisive moment for the DRC. “The DRC is currently advocating for the recognition of genocides committed by Rwanda, particularly in the eastern part of the country. This document constitutes a major strategic and legal tool to support the diplomatic and judicial actions undertaken by the Congolese Government,” she said. Finally, the Prime Minister, the President of the CNDH Paul Nsapu, Mr. Jean-Claude Katende, and Minister Mbemba paid tribute to the participants in the workshop, including human rights defenders, delegates from various ministries and civil society actors who contributed to the drafting of the report.