DRC and Cameroon face school reopening challenges amid conflict and Ebola

The 2026-2027 school year has commenced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon, though both nations face significant disruptions due to security and health crises.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 29 to 31 million students are expected to return to classes. However, the reopening is marked by extreme regional disparities. In the East, particularly in North Kivu, armed conflict and population displacements have hindered schooling. In areas like Bunia and Beni, the threat of Ebola has caused parental anxiety and necessitated strict prevention measures. Additionally, teacher strikes regarding wages and social demands have been reported in Mbandaka.

In Cameroon, the International Crisis Group has warned that rising violence in the Anglophone regions could disrupt the school reopening scheduled for September 7. The Northwest and Southwest regions have seen increased activity from separatists, including attacks on gendarmerie brigades and ambushes on military convoys. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 88 attacks on education were reported in the first half of 2026, highlighting the vulnerability of students and teachers to ongoing sociopolitical conflict.