Democratic Republic of the Congo

Protracted conflict-related violence continues in the eastern DRC and in Ituri province where ethnic and tribal violence and Islamists’ (including the ADF) and other armed militia clash with government forces or private military companies.

ADF loot pharmacy in Beni
23-24 December 2022: In Vwerere village, Halungupa locality, Ruwenzori sector, ​​Beni territory, North Kivu province, suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia looted a pharmacy before setting the store on fire. Source: Actualité Return to DRC home page more
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2021 SHCC Factsheet

Global Health Map

Datasets on HDX

Social Media Monitoring

Threats and Violence

Social Media Monitoring

Insecurity Insight monitors and examines social media to identify when it is used to spread false information and incite violence against aid providers. In the DRC, social media has been used during Ebola outbreaks to spread doubt about the intentions of the health responders and at times to incite violence against the Ebola programme as well as the wider aid sector.

Health Care

Most incidents of violence or obstruction against health care in the DRC are reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces in north-eastern DRC, which are areas of protracted conflict. Incidents have also been documented in Haut-Katanga, Maniema, and Tanganyika provinces.

Health workers have been kidnapped from health facilities, when travelling to or from work, when working in the field, and during robberies.  Health workers have been injured in road ambushes and during armed and unarmed robberies at health facilities.

2021 Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) Factsheet available in English and French. Download data data on HDX.

Explore our Attacked and Threatened: Health Care at Risk interactive global map to see incidents where health workers were killed, kidnapped or injured and incidents where health facilities were damaged or destroyed since 2016. includes details on who the perpetrators were and the weapons used as well as incidents impacting Ebola response efforts.

Our global health map includes attacks on health care in the DRC and includes details on who the perpetrators were and the weapons used as well as incidents impacting Ebola response efforts. Use the ‘Ebola’ context category to filter incidents.

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence in the DRC is widespread, particularly in rural communities. Perpetrators of sexual violence include unidentified armed group, various mai-mai militia groups, FARDC soldiers and South Sudanese military forces.


Following the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Eastern part of DRC, reports of widespread sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse came to light. Insecurity Insight’s analysis report highlights some of the key learnings on reporting sexual violence, exploitation and abuse from the 10th Ebola Response in the DRC. We are developing and working with local organisations in the DRC to strengthen reporting and monitoring of incidents of sexual violence.

Education

Various militia groups have stormed and attacked schools, kidnapping and attacking students and teachers. Some students have been raped during these attacks.

Students and teachers have been detained and injured by police officers during demonstrations against raising tuition fees, the closure of schools due to COVID-19 and unpaid wages.

Data