Overview

Attacks against civilians continued as the conflict between armed groups and government forces escalated. At least 100 civilians were killed as a result of indiscriminate shelling by government forces and armed groups. Government forces extrajudicially executed 250 people. There was an alarming increase in reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. More than 7 million people were internally displaced – 80% of whom had fled armed conflict – and lived in dire conditions. The expansion of mining projects led to mass forced evictions and the denial of rights, including to housing, health, water and other essential services. The rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association were restricted, particularly in the Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces where a form of martial law was imposed. Activists, opposition members, journalists and others were subjected to arbitrary arrests and detentions and denied the right to a fair trial. An opposition party member was given a prison sentence after he said he had been raped during his arbitrary detention. More than 120 prisoners died, and hundreds of women prisoners were raped at Makala Prison when, according to authorities, some inmates made an escape attempt. There was a spike in death sentences after the government said it would resume executions. The justice minister instructed the prosecutor general to initiate legal proceedings against those who advocated for LGBTI people’s rights. The ICC prosecutor announced the renewal of investigations into crimes under the Rome Statute committed in Nord-Kivu province since January 2022.