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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Enthusiasm quickly gave way to disappointment. On Sunday 22 March, hundreds of residents had gathered at the Stade de l’Unité to take part in a raffle; but many left without a draw having taken place.
From early morning, young people, adults and the elderly had bought tickets selling for 2,500 Congolese francs (around one dollar) and were hoping to win prizes. Some had bought several tickets, in some cases as many as ten. On the ground, however, there was no sign of any draw taking place. “We waited in vain,” said one participant bitterly.
Faced with the lack of organization, confusion set in. Families who had invested part of their meagre incomes in buying tickets found themselves with no apparent recourse. The situation, already tense due to the local security context, deteriorated at times: members of the security forces affiliated with the AFC/M23, who control the town, intervened to disperse the crowd.
After waiting in line for several hours, some of the participants became angry. According to witnesses, local residents gathered and protested, with some throwing stones to express their dissatisfaction at what they consider to be a deception.
At this stage, no official statement has been issued by the organizers to explain the cancellation or postponement of the event. Residents, visibly frustrated, left the scene expressing their bitterness. Others went to the organizers’ alleged office in the Les Volcans neighborhood to seek clarification.
This latest episode is part of a series of recent initiatives – raffles, lotteries, informal trading, sports betting and schemes such as Nyendawagira and Otto – which have generated as much hope as they have controversy. For many observers, these practices reflect a search for quick fixes in the face of persistent economic insecurity: unemployment, falling incomes and limited access to formal credit mechanisms.
Psychologists are warning of the cumulative effects of these setbacks: repeated disappointments, a loss of confidence and increased stress amongst a population already suffering from the violence and displacement caused by the armed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Job losses, exacerbated by economic disruption – notably the closure of certain bank branches and the partial paralysis of activities around the airport – are reinforcing a sense of widespread uncertainty.
“If the war drags on, unemployment will become another form of silent crisis,” worries one observer.
The Congolese Government has officially declared a radiological emergency in the area of the T17 tailings dam, located in Kolwezi, in Lualaba Province. This announcement was made by the Ministry of Higher Education, Universities, Scientific Research and Innovation.
In a document signed in Kolwezi by the Minister, Prof. Dr Sombo Ayanne Safi Mukuna Marie-Thérèse, on 23 March 2026, the authorities state that this decision has been taken in accordance with the duty to protect the population and the environment. The measure follows artisanal mining at the site, which has led to the confirmed presence of radioactive materials.
According to the statement, this situation poses a major risk to public health, national security and the ecological balance. However, the government emphasises the need for immediate action to limit any contamination, secure the site and protect the exposed populations.
“Following the exploitation of the site by artisanal miners, the confirmed presence of radioactive materials poses a major risk to public health, national security and the ecological balance. In light of this worrying situation, it is imperative to act without delay in order to contain any form of contamination, rigorously secure the site and effectively protect the exposed populations,” the document states.
The authorities state that several measures have already been implemented. These include the involvement of qualified experts, the deployment of specialist teams on the ground, and the establishment of protection, decontamination and continuous monitoring systems. Inter-institutional coordination and scientific rigour are also highlighted as key to containing the situation.
The Ministry also reassures the public regarding the management of this crisis, affirming that all appropriate measures are currently being implemented. The government calls for collective vigilance and strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the competent authorities.
The authorities reaffirm the State’s commitment to mobilising the necessary resources, acting with transparency and preserving national sovereignty in the management of this radiological emergency.
Whilst the conflict persisted in the east of the country, a new front line has emerged in recent months. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), formerly based in North Kivu and Ituri, are now extending their trail of terror towards Tshopo province, sending shockwaves through the international community.
The alert came from Geneva. During the 61st session of the Human Rights Council on Wednesday 25 March, the UN expressed its grave concern at the geographical expansion of this jihadist group. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the ADF are no longer content with their historical strongholds; they are now striking at the heart of Tshopo province.
Since last October, the escalation of violence has reached a new level. The group is accused of killing more than 260 civilians, forcing thousands of families to flee. Beyond the massacres, UN reports condemn systematic war crimes, including the sexual enslavement of women and girls.
The recent breaking point occurred in Muchacha, around 100 kilometers from Bafwasende. On 12 March, a coordinated double attack on mining sites claimed the lives of 17 people. This raid triggered a mass displacement of people: more than 7,000 displaced persons fled to the urban centres of Bafwasende and Kisangani, escaping a threat that now appears to be spiraling out of control.
This territorial expansion westwards raises acute questions about the effectiveness of the security response. Since May 2021, the Congolese (FARDC) and Ugandan (UPDF) armies have been conducting joint operations to root out the rebellion.
Yet, nearly four years later, the reality is grim. Far from being neutralized, the ADF are showing alarming resilience, bypassing areas under pressure to attack civilian populations that had previously been spared. For observers, this new incursion into Tshopo highlights the limitations of the current strategy and the urgent need to reassess the protection of civilians in this strategic region of the DRC.
