In his motion, MP Laddy Yangotikala accused Jacquemain Shabani of violating the free administration of the provinces, obstructing parliamentary oversight, undermining the separation of powers, abusing authority for partisan purposes, and being responsible for persistent insecurity; yet within a single day, the situation took a dramatic turn in several respects.

First, in the morning, the initiator of the motion, MP Laddy Yangotikala, resigned from his post as interim president of the ‘Action Des Volontaires Pour Le Relève Patriotique’ party.

“I wish to inform the national and international community that I am stepping down from my role as interim president of my political party, AVRP, in order to calmly defend the security of the population through my motion against the Minister of the Interior. I wish to spare others the pressures I am already facing,” he wrote on his X account before deleting the tweet that evening.

It should be noted that the announcement of this motion of no confidence was welcomed by the majority of the population of Kinshasa, who are victims of growing insecurity marked by armed robberies, kidnappings, theft and urban banditry commonly known as ‘Kuluna’.

Subsequently, political parties began to put pressure on the MPs who had signed the motion to withdraw their support. The AFDC-A (Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies) political party officially distanced itself from two of its national MPs on Tuesday 14 April 2026. The MPs in question are Cizungu Ntaboba Landry and Placide Wenda Mukagwa, accused of supporting a motion of no confidence in the National Assembly targeting the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo.

Within the parliamentary group, the permanent secretary of the Union sacrée, the platform of President Félix Tshisekedi, issued a message to MPs calling for an end to their actions against the second highest-ranking figure in the Congolese government.

"We are members of the majority and have all signed the Pledge of Commitment to the Sacred Union of the Nation (USN) and the Pledge of Loyalty to His Excellency Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, Head of State and Highest Political Authority. "Taking such a grave decision concerning the Deputy Prime Minister for the Interior, who is the number two in the USN government, without consulting the platform is totally unacceptable," he wrote.

Several figures in public life in the DRC have condemned the executive’s encroachments on parliament. Some analysts suggest that the initiator may have come under pressure from his political family, of which Minister Shabani is also a member.

"Do you realize the extent to which our society has deteriorated? Even MPs are no longer free to carry out their duties. If even MPs are no longer free, then who in this country still is?" asks Lionel Basila, a political analyst.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

The government refers to “a temporary reception scheme for third-country nationals”. On this point, the authorities are keen to stress that “this scheme is strictly transitional, temporary and limited in duration”, without providing further details.

Those deported are from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, according to sources close to the matter. “It took a very long time, about 26 or 27 hours,” one migrant told Reuters.

In other words, it is clearly established that “this constitutes neither a mechanism for long-term settlement on national territory nor a permanent resettlement”, though no indication is given as to how long the migrants will remain in the Congo.

Furthermore, the government emphasizes that “their reception, supervision and care are funded by the US Government”.

The arrival of these migrants has sparked a wave of reactions among politicians. Several civil society organizations have highlighted a lack of transparency and raised questions about the reception conditions and the legal framework of this operation.

Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly had called for the lower house of parliament to examine this issue, which is considered sensitive.

The Institute for Human Rights Research (IRDH), for its part, rejects this move. In an opinion piece, its director, Hubert Tshiswaka Masoka, strongly criticizes an agreement which he considers to be contrary to international commitments regarding the protection of refugees.

The NGO cites a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, forced transfers contrary to international law, and the illegal outsourcing of US obligations regarding asylum.

“By agreeing to become a platform for the outsourcing of migration for the United States, the DRC is deviating from international standards and undermining the universal protection of asylum seekers,” he says.

It calls on the DRC to suspend the agreement, on Washington to terminate it, and on the UNHCR to secure immediate access to the people concerned.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

The organization Conserv Congo announced on Thursday 9 April that a baby chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) had been seized in Kisangani, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the chimpanzee has been classified as an endangered species due to poaching and wildlife trafficking since 1996.

According to this organization, which is committed to combating wildlife trafficking, the operation took place on 7 April. It was carried out jointly with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), the Congolese National Police and the Tshopo Public Prosecutor’s Office. “The baby chimpanzee, which had been illegally transported in a rucksack, was found alive and placed under protection. The animal was being transported in a rucksack to evade the vigilance of environmental service and ICCN checkpoints, particularly at the barrier located approximately 23 km from the city of Kisangani,” Congo Conserv reports.

Two senior officials implicated

The operation led to the arrest of two senior officials from different ministries, suspected of being involved in an illegal trafficking network dealing in protected species. “The baby chimpanzee was found in a hotel in Kisangani, where it was due to be shown to potential buyers. It was seized immediately and transferred to a zoo. The suspects, both senior officials from two different ministries, hold positions requiring frequent travel to forested regions. This access enabled them to participate directly in the illicit trade in protected species,” she explains.

Mbusa Mapoli Joël Mbusa Mapoli, a biologist and senior lecturer at the University of Nature Conservation and Development in Kasugho, states in an email to Mongabay that the trafficking of chimpanzees, although illegal, is common and often facilitated by the complicity of certain officials. According to him, this trafficking involves both civilians and state officials. “Animal species, even those protected by law, are subject to illegal trade, either alive or as meat. As for chimpanzees, they are captured and trafficked.”

Some residents also keep them on their land for reasons of prestige, often unaware of the law. It is a long chain involving civilians, police and the military. The main weakness remains the failure to enforce the laws, which leads to almost total impunity,” he explains.

Mbusa recommends strict enforcement of the law, improved working conditions for enforcement officers and the imposition of exemplary penalties. “The key recommendation is to enforce the law to the full extent. It is also imperative to improve conditions for officers at all levels of wildlife control. Exemplary sanctions must be imposed on offenders, regardless of their role or status,” he suggests.

The organization Congo Conserv also states that the alleged accomplices are already in the custody of the judicial authorities pending further investigations. “The two individuals arrested are public officials assigned to a toll booth on National Road No. 4, the route from which the animal originated. They are in the custody of the judicial authorities, and legal proceedings are underway in accordance with current legislation. Investigations are continuing to identify any accomplices and trace the entire trafficking chain,” the organization reassures.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

According to data from Global Forest Watch (GFW), a global platform for monitoring the world’s forests, forest loss in the Congo Basin has seen a gradual but steady increase over the last decade. This trend also affects primary forests, which are nevertheless the ecosystems richest in biodiversity.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accounts for the bulk of this forest loss in the region. It alone accounts for over 75% of the deforestation recorded in the Congo Basin, far ahead of Cameroon, which comes in second place.

Across much of the region, the main cause of forest cover loss remains small-scale shifting cultivation. This traditional subsistence practice involves clearing a section of forest to cultivate it for a few years, before leaving it fallow to allow the vegetation to regenerate naturally.

Although this agricultural system is ancient and widespread in rural communities, its expansion in certain areas is now contributing to increased pressure on forests.

Furthermore, cocoa cultivation is gradually emerging as a new driver of deforestation in certain countries of the Congo Basin, particularly where the sector is encouraged by public policy. In the DRC, for example, cocoa production more than quadrupled between 2015 and 2023, according to available data.

Agricultural development programs often promote shade-grown cocoa systems or intensive farming models. However, even these practices can lead to forest conversion, particularly in forest landscapes that are still intact.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

Source of datas :
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/forest-insights/congo-basin-forest-loss-trends/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=congobasintcl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMjc1MjU0NjkyNTk4Mjc5AAEeSPCiwpwn7nYxUUKRukjRs52RCKNaDekM96AapeirUZcfNXypUn08bK7ML3o_aem_8LxsCbiKJvYvJryMaxarJQ

Faced with escalating violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States is taking a tougher stance. Through targeted sanctions, Washington is denouncing not only logistical support, but also the direct operational involvement of Rwandan troops alongside M23 rebels.

According to UN and military sources, several thousand Rwandan soldiers, including special forces units, crossed the Congolese border in the weeks leading up to this major operation.

In response to the new sanctions imposed on the Rwandan army and four of its senior commanders, Human Rights Watch considers the overall response to be still too timid. The human rights organization is calling on the European Union, the United Kingdom and governments in the region to follow the United States' lead.

The objective is clear: to increase pressure by adopting targeted sanctions against other high-ranking officials, both within the M23 and the Rwandan military hierarchy, in order to break the cycle of violence in eastern Congo.

For Nicole Widdersheim, deputy director of the organization’s Washington office, these US measures go beyond the mere diplomatic framework.

"The United States is making it clear that the M23's territorial gains would not have been possible without the direct operational involvement of the Rwandan army," she explains. According to her, these sanctions reflect an effort by Washington to enforce international agreements and demand that Rwanda end its support for the armed group "once and for all".

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) corroborates this analysis, stating that the Rwandan army "actively supports, trains and fights alongside the M23".

The M23 is now at the heart of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region. The United Nations, the United States and the European Union have documented an alarming list of abuses attributed to the group, including summary executions and sexual violence, massive, forced displacement of populations, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and forced recruitment, including of child soldiers.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

The noose is tightening around the National Cyber Defence Council (CNC). Following the damning report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) denouncing enforced disappearances in Kinshasa, the Congolese NGO Justicia Asbl has broken its silence. It is calling on President Félix Tshisekedi to take action against the abuses committed by a service under his direct authority.

In a recent report, the international organization Human Rights Watch revealed around ten cases of enforced disappearances targeting political opponents since March 2025. These acts are attributed to the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC), a body attached to the Presidency, which is said to use ‘spurious’ grounds to carry out arbitrary arrests and detain citizens in secret locations.

For Justicia Asbl, these revelations confirm long-standing fears. In an official statement, the NGO commends the work of HRW, emphasizing that the CNC has legally “no right to abduct citizens, nor to detain them in clandestine cells”.

The organization strongly condemns practices described as “barbaric and tantamount to terrorism”, targeting not only opponents but also human rights activists and journalists. According to Justicia Asbl, these actions do not serve national security interests but are part of a “purely political” agenda.

This intensified repression comes against a backdrop of growing tension surrounding the Constitution. Justicia Asbl fears that the CNC and the judiciary may be “exploited to silence critical voices” opposed to a potential constitutional amendment that would allow the Head of State to seek a third term. Such a scenario would, according to the NGO, deal a “fatal blow” to the young Congolese democracy.

In light of the gravity of the situation, Justicia Asbl is appealing directly to the country’s head of state. The NGO is calling on the President of the Republic, in particular, to launch an independent inquiry into the CNC’s abuses and to order the immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustly detained.

Whilst the families of the missing remain without news, international and local pressure is mounting for the authorities in Kinshasa to shed full light on these “missing persons” and to respect legal judicial procedures.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is once again plunged into horror. Whilst the families’ tears continue to flow, the terrorist organization Islamic State officially claimed responsibility, on Saturday 14 March 2026, for the bloody assault carried out last Thursday against the Muchana mining site, in the territory of Mambasa, Ituri.

The toll provided by the organization via its propaganda channels is chilling. The terrorists claim to have cold-bloodedly shot dead around twenty people. The victims are said to include 17 civilians, trapped within the mining compound, as well as Congolese soldiers who were attempting to protect the site.

Beyond the massacre, Islamic State claims to have abducted more than 100 people during this incursion. This mass abduction has plunged the region into deep anxiety, with the fate of the hostages remaining, at this hour, completely unknown.

This attack on a strategic economic site demonstrates once again the vulnerability of mining areas in Ituri, which are often targeted for the plundering of resources or to finance terrorist activities.

Despite ongoing military operations, blood continues to be shed with impunity. This latest tragedy highlights the urgent need for greater security for civilians and workers at mining sites, which have become prime targets for the armed groups that have been causing grief in the province for years.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

Armed men, whose identities remain unknown, attacked passengers on the Kiwanja-Kanyabayonga road, along National Road No. 2 (RN2), near the 17 km mark—a junction leading to the fishing enclave of Vitshumbi— on the afternoon of Friday 13 March 2026, in North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area under the control of the 23 March Movement (M23).

According to local sources, the attackers stripped the travelers of all their valuables and took some people into the bush. The victims were mostly passengers travelling from the city of Goma towards the far north of the province.

A video shared on social media by one of the victims illustrates the scale of the looting. Mobile phones, letters and cash were taken. Only his phone escaped being stolen after he had hidden it.

This incident comes against an already tense backdrop. Between October 2025 and February 2026, civil society organizations in Rutshuru territory recorded at least 24 attacks by armed groups along the Kiwanja–Kanyabayonga route, resulting in at least 13 deaths and around 30 injuries on the Mabenga–Rwindi–Kanyabayonga and Vitshumbi–Rwindi–Kibirizi sections.

According to the report, the perpetrators of these attacks remain unknown. A few weeks ago, two vehicles belonging to humanitarian organizations were also intercepted in Busendo, on the Mabenga–Rwindi section. One of these vehicles was carrying essential medicines destined for the village of Kibirizi, civil society groups lament.

These incidents are causing persistent insecurity in this region of Virunga National Park. This situation is affecting the civilian population and disrupting transport and humanitarian activities in the region.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

In the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gorilla families are welcoming new births despite the continuing security instability. On Tuesday 17 March, Virunga National Park announced the arrival of a newborn in the Masubo family, bringing the number of births recorded since the start of 2026 to six, spread across five groups.

Formed in October 2025 following a split from the Kibirizi family, the Masubo group is led by the silverback Masibo. “Formed in October 2025 following the split from the Kibirizi family, the group is led by the silverback Masibo, son of Kabirizi, who took 13 individuals with him. This is the first birth recorded since the family’s formation, bringing the troop’s total to 15 members,” the park stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

These findings come against a backdrop of severe security instability, which is having a lasting impact on conservation activities. Park authorities highlight the role of community trackers, who are responsible for the daily monitoring of gorillas in an environment that has become particularly challenging. According to the official website of Virunga National Park, at least 110 community trackers are involved in monitoring and protecting the groups. “Behind every confirmed birth lies the patient and dedicated work of our community trackers. Out in the field every day, often in demanding conditions, they are the first witnesses to these exceptional moments,” emphasizes Jacques Katatu, head of mountain gorilla monitoring.

But these encouraging signs struggle to mask the ongoing deterioration of the situation in this protected area, which has been a World Heritage Site since 1979. In a report submitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in 2025, experts warn of this alarming situation. “The presence of armed groups in and around the park is hampering conservation activities. In 2025, the situation worsened significantly with the advance of M23 fighters near Goma. This insecurity has restricted access to the central and southern sectors of the park for park rangers and scientific teams, thereby complicating the monitoring of illegal activities and regular patrols.”

The report also highlights the indirect consequences of the conflicts. “Human occupation within the protected area is on the rise: the occupied area has increased from 1% in 2021 to 14.2% in 2024, exacerbating human-wildlife conflicts. Other factors such as the intensification of agricultural activities, grazing and infrastructure construction are exacerbating these pressures,” the report notes.

Implications for research:

Despite these constraints, the eco-guards of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation are continuing their operations. Land, lake and aerial patrols are maintained in certain accessible areas. “These operations have led to the arrest of around 1,700 people involved in illegal activities, including illegal fishing, farming within the park and charcoal production. Collaboration with local stakeholders is seen as key to reducing tensions and improving conservation,” the report states.

Beyond conservation, instability is also affecting scientific research. A study published in November 2025 in the journal Nature Sustainability highlights that this disruption has led to “the suspension of several scientific programs designed to document local biodiversity, monitor changes in species populations and better understand the ecological dynamics of tropical forests. ”

The authors add: “When insecurity takes hold, research stations close, scientists lose access to study sites, and ecological monitoring programs are interrupted. This situation creates a critical lack of scientific data, making it more difficult to understand and protect ecosystems.”

In April 2025, Virunga National Park celebrated its centenary amidst a wider crisis that extends beyond its borders. Established in 1925 to protect its exceptional biodiversity, the park is now facing a succession of conflicts, human pressures and economic challenges that are testing its ecological integrity.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

Modeste Bahati Lukwebo resigned on Wednesday 18 October 2026 from his post as Second Vice-President of the Senate, as the plenary session established a special committee of 27 senators to investigate, within 72 hours, the petition calling for his removal. This decision comes against a backdrop of intense pressure, as a motion of no confidence had been tabled against him.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, the South Kivu senator stated that he was stepping down from his post following the submission of a petition for his removal initiated by Senator Dany Kabongo Bondanya and supported by several parliamentarians.

“In any case, when one is given a mandate, one must be prepared to step down at any time. As there were misunderstandings following my statement at my press conference, I thought I had made myself clear when I said that a great deal of work needed to be done on the people themselves if we were to hope that the laws would be enforced,” said Modeste Bahati.

This resignation also comes amid heightened tensions linked to the debate on the Constitution. Modeste Bahati Lukwebo had recently opposed any initiative for constitutional revision, a stance that is said to have contributed to weakening his influence within the majority.

Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, who served as President of the Senate between 2019 and 2024, had resumed the role of Vice-President following the 2023 general election. His departure could have repercussions on the internal balance of power within the Senate, against the broader backdrop of political realignment in the run-up to the next elections.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma