In a detailed report published in early March 2026, the non-governmental human rights organization BADILIKA warns of escalating violence in North Kivu province.

According to the report, 270 people were massacred between December 2025 and February 2026, crimes attributed to local and foreign armed groups, notably ADF and AFC-M23 terrorists.

“The abuses committed by the ADF and M23 have taken a heavy human toll. 270 civilians have been killed, dozens more wounded, and vast rural areas have been emptied of their inhabitants as a result of massacres, arson, looting and abductions,” the report states.

In addition to these killings, the insecurity has caused massive population displacement. More than 178,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Masisi territory, fleeing clashes between the FARDC and the AFC-M23 rebellion. This situation is exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis in the region.

The report also draws on data from OCHA to highlight the extent of the chaos: “More than 178,000 internally displaced persons have been registered. The uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and the fragmentation of armed groups have created a climate of impunity and permanent insecurity.”

Faced with this bleak picture, the NGO Badilika insists that it is imperative to strengthen the protection of civilians and put an end to practices of violence and extortion.

The organization calls for the urgent dismantling of armed groups and the sustainable restoration of peace and the rule of law in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Editorial Team