The response to the Ebola virus disease continues in Ituri Province, a region severely affected by the outbreak. This is particularly true in the Lita health zone, which has been recording approximately 4 to 5 cases per day since the start of the outbreak, according to data from the zone’s chief medical officer. While steps have been taken, much remains to be done to eradicate this outbreak.

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Located in Djugu territory—an area ravaged by decades of armed conflict—this region lacks almost everything: water, electricity, and food. It also has at least four camps for internally displaced persons.

Since May 18, when the first case was reported in Lita, the disease has spread like wildfire in this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Patience-Pacifique Lokengama, chief medical officer of the Lita health zone, has been leading this health zone for several years; tackling this outbreak has become his primary mission.

“The Ebola epidemic is, after all, an epidemic that frightens everyone. Since it is a serious disease, the population is absolutely right to be afraid to seek medical care. And yet, we know that the sooner we seek treatment, the better our chances of recovery and of living the rest of our lives,” says the chief medical officer of the Lita health zone.

The region is heavily controlled by armed groups searching for gold and is plagued by interethnic conflicts, which further complicates the care of patients. Several organizations, including the WHO, are working to address the challenges facing the Lita health zone.

Local healthcare workers are striving to respond as actively as possible. “As the number of patients increases, the care teams are constantly adapting their organization to continue providing quality care despite the growing pressure on treatment facilities,” says a nurse at the hospital.

The center has also been gradually equipped with medical supplies designed to improve the quality of care, particularly for patients whose condition requires closer monitoring. Professor Thierno Baldé is in charge of the World Health Organization’s response operation in the DRC. He notes that “the WHO has provided medical equipment, oxygen concentrators, and monitors to help facilitate this care capacity.”

According to official data from the National Institute of Public Health, the Lita health zone has already recorded approximately 240 confirmed cases, including 121 deaths. The remaining deaths occurred within families, and laboratory tests on samples from these cases came back positive. According to several local sources, this figure is likely significantly underestimated, as some families do not report deaths to the health zone and do not have samples tested.

To address these needs, several international organizations, coordinated by the WHO, are carrying out operations on the ground:  The WFP is building warehouses; MONUSCO has set up two laboratories; and the WHO, in collaboration with ALIMA, is constructing an Ebola treatment center capable of accommodating more than 80 patients.

Despite these efforts, many challenges remain, particularly regarding community awareness. “We are already working to address the issue of community reintegration with the support of cash assistance and dry food rations. As for the issue of community resistance stemming from misinformation,” acknowledges Dr. Patience-Pacifique.

“We are focusing on humanizing care. By humanizing care, we ensure that when a patient is admitted to the CTE, they are in contact with a healthcare professional with whom they can relate. We want the patient to feel comfortable having their basic needs met, particularly eating well according to their tastes and cultural preferences,” she says.

Professor Thierno added that efforts are underway. “It’s just that the scale of the virus is so vast; I think we need to get that message across. In other words, people are really working hard, going above and beyond, and doing the very best they can.”

The biggest problem in the Lita area remains the timely referral of patients and community-based case detection. So far, several approaches to engage the community have not been successful. To address this, “we’re implementing a community-based approach, specifically one that involves reaching out to the village chief,” says Dr. Patience-Pacifique. “This is truly a major asset that allows us to reach the very last person who can help turn the tide. So, the village chief, the ten households, the youth leaders, and the women’s associations—we’re working with all of them,”

As part of her new approach, the chief medical officer at Lita Hospital is currently recruiting people who have recovered from Ebola and are willing to raise public awareness about treatments and explain that admission to a treatment center does not mean certain death.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma, reporting from Lita, Ituri

Dictatorial abuses and financial extortion are intensifying in areas under the control of the AFC-M23 rebellion. After undermining the education system by suspending free education, the rebel movement is now targeting the medical sector.

In the Masisi health zone, every member of the medical and administrative staff is now forced to pay 2 percent of their salary to the movement. According to several consistent accounts gathered directly from local sources, this forced levy is presented by the rebels as a so-called “contribution by health facilities toward their own operations.”

To enforce this measure, the M23 is exploiting the local medical hierarchy, entrusting the burdensome task of collecting funds to registered nurses as well as to the Health Infrastructure Management Administrators (AGIS).

The way this tax is enforced borders on organized extortion. All employees, without exception—from the medical director down to the security guard—are required to make an advance payment covering a three-month period. To do so, the rebels demand the use of the Airtel Money mobile payment platform.

In the face of this fraudulent system, dissent is not tolerated. No fewer than 15 sources from various healthcare facilities in Masisi confirm the climate of terror that has been established: any refusal or delay in payment exposes employees to severe reprisals, ranging from immediate expulsion from their workplace to imprisonment for “disobeying the movement’s orders.”

This suffocating financial pressure exerted on healthcare workers stands in stark contrast to the attitude of the authorities in Kinshasa.

While the AFC-M23 is plundering the meager incomes of public servants, the Congolese government, for its part, continues to fulfill its constitutional obligations.

Despite the complex security situation and the territorial control exercised by the rebels, the central government maintains its logistical and financial support for health facilities in Masisi. The Republic’s objective remains unchanged: to guarantee access to quality health care for civilian populations held hostage by the conflict, reaffirming the state’s presence through public service, even in the heart of occupied areas.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

In a speech broadcast live on National Radio and Television, the President of the DRC addressed the nation. He officially launched the national dialogue so eagerly awaited by both civil society and the opposition, termed the "national dialogue for peace, cohesion, and the refounding of the State." While this news eases tensions, several questions are emerging regarding its format, intentions, and timelines.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

“The ambition of this dialogue is clear: to enable the Congolese people to no longer merely respond to the successive manifestations of our crises, but to finally address their underlying causes. To achieve this, we must cease envisioning the future of the Republic solely through the prism of our political affiliations, our ideological rivalries, and our community sensitivities. The supreme interest of the Nation must prevail over any other consideration. “said the President of the Republic.

No rebellion in the current dialogue process

“No one can claim to sit at the table of the nation while taking up arms against it,” he stated in his speech, before continuing that “no weapon will confer upon its holder a right superior to that which suffrage recognizes for the citizen. No military conquest can be converted into political legitimacy.”

“Therefore, those who, at the opening of the process, are fighting through arms against the constitutional order, forcibly occupying a part of the national territory, illegally administering entities of the Republic, or acting in the service of a foreign power—in this case, Rwanda—will not be able to participate in this dialogue,” he added on this point.

This was before clarifying that the Luanda process, changed into the Doha dialogue in Qatar, remains the appropriate framework to deal with the AFC-M23 regarding issues related to the cessation of hostilities.

The AFC-M23 is a politico-military movement supported by Rwanda operating in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With the assistance of Rwandan army troops, this movement currently controls the cities of Goma and Bukavu as well as several territories in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

The Head of State calls upon political, social, and religious actors for calm, the rejection of hate speech, and the defense of the supreme interest of the Republic. He also urges the Congolese youth to take their full place in this process. Finally, Félix Tshisekedi requests "firm and constant" support from international partners—notably the United States, Qatar, the African Union, and the European Union—to support the Washington and Doha processes, the withdrawal of Rwandan troops, and the disarmament of the M23.

A format from the local to the national level

According to the current format, the dialogues will take place only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and not on foreign territories.

“This national dialogue will be distinguished first and foremost by its territorial anchoring. It will not begin in Kinshasa, but at the heart of our 26 provinces, our territories, and our communities. Furthermore, these dialogues will begin from the local level up to the national level. First, stakeholders will meet locally to constitute themselves and speak in a sort of provincial dialogue. Then, the recommendations will be escalated to the national level where the national dialogue will be held.

The entire process will be limited to a maximum duration of 3 months, according to the President of the Republic.

Prior to the national proceedings, a broad political and technical consultation will be organized in each province. Preliminary forums will gather at the provincial capital the populations, local authorities, national deputies and elected senators of the province, representatives of decentralized and deconcentrated territorial entities, political parties and groupings of both the majority and the opposition, civil society, customary authorities, religious denominations, as well as professional, economic, academic, and scientific circles,”he indicated.

The President of the Republic indicated that several commissions will be created to mechanize the dialogue, but he did not specify what kind of actors should compose these commissions.

Easing of the political climate

Tensions have been on the agenda for several months in the DRC. Plunged into the current majority's intention to change the constitution to allow a third term for Félix Tshisekedi, several demonstrations have been organized. Several opposition figures, including Nathanael Onokomba Shako, find themselves in prison, while others have had their passports confiscated or not renewed. The President of the Republic commits to making gestures capable of creating a favorable climate for dialogue.

“In the spirit of responsibility and national concord guiding this approach, I will personally ensure that, in strict compliance with the laws of the Republic and the requirements of civil peace, the conditions of security and trust necessary for the return and participation of those of our compatriots whom the trials of our recent history have led, for various reasons, to stand on the margins of national unity are met,” said the Head of State.

Tshisekedi does not give up on changing the constitution

What the President of the Republic did not address is notably the question of guaranteeing that the results of this dialogue will not lead to a change of the Constitution. The terms "reform" and "refounding of the State"—which often, in Congo, tend to suggest the idea of a change of the Constitution—were repeatedly used in the speech of the Head of State of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Yet, this is one of the major points of discord between the ruling majority led by the Sacred Union and the opposition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, civil society, as well as religious denominations—notably the ECC and CENCO—which oppose any idea of changing the Constitution so that the president can reset the clock to zero and thus run beyond his second and final term provided for by the current Constitution in 2028.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2026 was launched on 25 August in Rusayo, in Nyiragongo Territory, on the western outskirts of the city of Goma. The event is organized by the North Kivu Provincial Health Division (DPS).

Under the theme ‘Breastfeeding: a springboard for life – supporting and strengthening what works’, the campaign aims to strengthen initiatives promoting breastfeeding and to inform mothers and families about issues relating to infant health and nutrition.

The topics covered during the campaign focus in particular on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. According to health professionals, breast milk provides infants with the nutrients and water necessary for their growth and development. During this period, it is generally not necessary to give additional water, even during periods of extreme heat, unless medically advised.

Healthcare professionals also point out that breastfeeding can help with birth spacing when the conditions for the lactation amenorrhea method (LAM) are met. They further state that breastfeeding is recommended until the age of two or beyond, alongside an appropriate diet from six months onwards.

The issue of using breast milk to treat certain eye conditions in infants was also discussed. Although breast milk naturally contains certain components with protective and antimicrobial properties, its use to treat eye problems is not a substitute for medical care.

In the event of persistent redness, discharge, swelling or other eye symptoms in an infant, healthcare professionals recommend seeking medical advice rather than applying breast milk to the eyes without medical guidance.

It should be noted that breastfeeding women in Goma face constraints related to their daily activities. In particular, some have to balance breastfeeding with livelihood activities, notably working with a brush cutter and spending long hours selling goods. These constraints can make it more difficult to continue breastfeeding and raise the question of how to support breastfeeding mothers in their professional and economic activities.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

Photo caption: Women taking part in a breastfeeding training course in Rusayo, in the Nyiragongo territory. Photos by Silva Kanduki

The Wazalendo Synergy of the Grand-Nord Front announced on Friday 21 August 2026 that it had recaptured several historic strongholds of the Islamist terrorist group ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) in the Bapere sector, located in Lubero territory, North Kivu.

According to John Mangaiko, spokesperson for this armed civilian organization, these military successes are the result of offensive operations carried out in close collaboration with the coalition of the Congolese (FARDC) and Ugandan (UPDF) armies.

Several strategic localities formerly under the control of the insurgents, notably Mabuo, Bududiya and Isange, are now under the control of the coalition forces.

“Operations by the Wazalendo Synergy on the Far North Front are going well,” said John Mangaiko. According to the spokesperson, this progress on the security front is already bearing fruit in humanitarian and economic terms. It is enabling the local population to return to their villages and gradually resume their daily activities in the Bapere area.

In response to the accusations regularly levelled at local armed groups, the Synergie des Wazalendo used this statement to categorically deny any involvement of its members in financial or economic malpractice. John Mangaiko firmly denied reports suggesting that the Wazalendo were involved in illegal mining or in creating administrative and traffic obstacles in the recently liberated areas.

“What we do is voluntary work,” he insisted, adding that the small contributions received come spontaneously from some local residents. These donations, he said, are simply a token of appreciation from the local population for the efforts made by these volunteers to secure their communities.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

The hippopotamus was found dead on 8 August by an ICCN patrol team in Virunga National Park, according to a health alert issued on Friday 14 August by the Kibirizi rural health zone, which covers the Vitshumbi health area.

Part of the carcass had been taken by local residents before the cause of death could be established. A sample taken from the animal was subsequently analyzed in a laboratory and tested positive for Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium responsible for anthrax.

“A sample taken from a hippopotamus found dead on 8 August (...) was analyzed and the result came back positive for anthrax in the laboratory,” said Muhindo Nzwiri Désiré, chief medical officer of the Kibirizi rural health zone, in the health alert.

The Kibirizi health zone has stepped up awareness-raising efforts in Vitshumbi, a fishing enclave on the south-western shore of Lake Edward in Virunga National Park, following confirmation of a case of anthrax in a hippopotamus found dead in the area.

A delegation from the health zone travelled to Vitshumbi on Sunday 16 August to raise awareness amongst residents of the risks associated with consuming wild animal meat and to encourage anyone who may have eaten meat from this hippopotamus to come forward voluntarily to a health center for testing.

According to local sources, part of the carcass had been taken and consumed by some residents before tests confirmed the presence of the disease.

However, some residents are reportedly reluctant to undergo testing, for fear of possible prosecution by the nature conservation authorities for alleged poaching.

Officials from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) have dismissed these fears and described the initiative as a public health measure. They are encouraging anyone who may have been exposed to contact the health services.

“You shouldn’t wait until someone falls ill to seek medical advice. The key thing is that we are aware of the presence of this disease in our community and that we take the necessary precautions,” explains an ICCN source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gentil Mungumwa, a member of the Virunga Elite Youth Organization, is also calling on anyone who has eaten hippopotamus meat to come forward.

“This is not a matter of poaching. They must come forward voluntarily. The matter is in the hands of the medical profession. They must not be afraid,” he says.

According to him, priority must be given to prevention and to the care of those who may have been exposed.

“It has been established that the hippopotamus was found dead as a result of an illness. How can these people be lumped together with poachers? We must avoid focusing on unfounded rumors. It is better to encourage them to go to the nearest health centers to get tested,” he adds.

Churches take action

Awareness-raising efforts also continued in several churches in Vitshumbi on Sunday, during announcements made to the congregation. Religious leaders passed on health information and urged the public to take precautions.

“People tend to be skeptical, but they have been informed. We hope they will protect themselves,” says a religious leader contacted in Vitshumbi.

For some local leaders, disseminating reliable information is now a key priority in order to minimize the risks associated with potential exposure and to encourage those affected to visit healthcare facilities.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law setting out the procedures for organizing the referendum in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was in line with the Constitution. The high court did, however, express reservations regarding certain provisions of the text.

This decision comes after several weeks of waiting and puts an end to the uncertainty surrounding the enactment of this law, which had already been passed by both houses of Parliament.

In its review, the Constitutional Court found that the bulk of the law complies with the principles and provisions of the Constitution. However, reservations were expressed regarding certain provisions, calling for them to be addressed in accordance with constitutional requirements.

The high court’s decision thus marks an important step in the legal process governing the organization of a possible referendum in the DRC.

The adoption of this law comes against a political backdrop characterized by debates concerning the country’s institutional future and the question of a possible revision or amendment of the Constitution.

As a referendum is a procedure enabling the people to express their views directly on a matter submitted for their consideration, the arrangements for organizing it are of particular importance.

With the ruling handed down on Tuesday, the legal framework governing the organization of a referendum has now been declared compliant by the Constitutional Court, subject to compliance with the observations made by the Court.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling thus marks a new stage in the political and institutional debate in the DRC, whilst the issue of the referendum remains at the center of numerous discussions.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has adopted a new law on fisheries and aquaculture, which was promulgated by the President of the Republic on 27 July 2026. The presidential order announcing this promulgation was read out on the Congolese National Radio and Television (RTNC). This new legislation replaces the decree of 21 April 1937, which had become unsuitable for the sector’s current realities.

Adopted by the National Assembly on 25 May 2026, this law establishes a modern legal framework designed to regulate fishing and aquaculture activities in the DRC. It aims to contribute to food security, promote the sustainable use of fishery resources and strengthen the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in their management.

In particular, the Act prohibits illegal fishing, as well as the use of toxic substances or any other practices that destroy aquatic ecosystems. It also encourages the development of aquaculture, job creation, cooperation between the various stakeholders in the sector, and regional integration for the coordinated management of cross-border fishery resources.

The new law comprises 102 articles divided into nine titles. It sets out the fundamental principles of conservation, sustainable use, protection and governance of fisheries and aquaculture resources, considering the specific characteristics of the various aquatic ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Victoire Katembo Mbuto

Caption: Fishing canoes moored along the shores of Lake Albert in Kasenyi, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo by  Akilimali Chomachoma

Congolese cyclist Miguel Masaisai, originally from Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), arrived in Kinshasa on Wednesday 5 August 2026, after more than two months of cycling across the country.

As the driving force behind the ‘Pedals for Peace’ project, this young man from Goma is leading an awareness campaign to promote the return of peace to eastern DRC, a region that has been plagued by armed conflict and persistent security instability for several decades.

‘Since 1 May, every turn of the pedals has brought me closer to this moment. I’ve crossed mountains, braved the sun, the rain, fatigue, breakdowns and doubts. But one thing has remained stronger than anything else: the conviction that peace is worth fighting for,” he wrote in a recent post on his Facebook account, where he is documenting his journey.

For Miguel Masaisai, his arrival in Kinshasa is also the result of the support of the many people he has met and those who have backed his initiative throughout the journey. He believes that his journey offers a different perspective on the DRC, looking beyond the security challenges affecting the eastern part of the country in particular.

“We have shown the world a different side to the DRC. After travelling thousands of kilometers, along roads that were sometimes impassable, over mountains, and through moments of exhaustion when many thought it was impossible, I never gave up,” says the cyclist.

A journey marked by difficulties

Miguel Masaisai’s route was not the one originally planned. His itinerary was due to take him through Angola before reaching Kongo-Central. However, a visa issue forced him to alter his route. The cyclist then passed through Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Likasi, Kamina, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga and Tshikapa, before continuing on to Kinshasa.

On his arrival in the capital, he was greeted by cyclists and a number of local residents. The convoy headed for the People’s Palace in Maluku, where he intends to continue the activities linked to his initiative. During his journey, Miguel Masaisai says he has benefited from the solidarity of the people he has met along the way. He also wishes to highlight the welcome and support he has received from several Congolese communities that have backed his initiative.

After Kinshasa, his journey is set to continue to Brazzaville, before crossing several countries in Central and West Africa, with Rabat, in Morocco, as his final destination. Miguel Masaisai intends to continue spreading his message: promoting peace and reminding people that Congolese citizens can also contribute, through civic initiatives, to building a different image of their country.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto

The terror wrought by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) has reached a new level of horror in the Babila Babombi chiefdom, in the heart of Mambasa territory. More than forty civilians, cowardly massacred between the last week of July and 2 August, still lie on the ground, unburied. The persistent presence of the attackers is preventing any humanitarian intervention.

In the mining areas of Pakwa, Pondo, Longue Histoire and Munguiko, situated within the Bandimboyo village group, the victims’ bodies have been left out in the open. The information was confirmed this weekend by local traditional authorities, who are powerless in the face of the rebels’ firepower.

According to the chief of these communities, Mwami Kiba Mbida Josias, the distribution of the tragedy bears witness to the violence of the criminal attacks. Thirty bodies have been left in the Pakwa mining area, seven victims have been counted in Pondo, and ten bodies have been trapped inside a church in Munguiko.

Human dignity is currently being trampled underfoot by fear. Families and local leaders find themselves completely unable to organize funerals or recover the victims’ remains. The enemy is still lurking, turning the area into a death trap. “I am waiting for the army to escort us so that we can go and bury these bodies, as the enemy is still moving around the area,” warned Mwami Kiba Mbida Josias, issuing an urgent appeal to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

Faced with the imminent threat of further clashes and in order to clear the area of human shields, the local authority has ordered the evacuation of the survivors: “I urge the population to leave the area to allow the army to do its job.”

This latest massacre in the mining areas of Mambasa illustrates the growing activity of the ADF, which is stifling the local economy and plunging Ituri into mourning, despite the military operations currently underway in the region.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi