DRC conflict intensifies as civilians face rebel tax arrests and army battles surge

The Association for the Protection and Development of Families (APDEF) reported that the Congolese army detained several civilians in Mungamba, Ituri province, accusing them of possessing tokens demanded by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) to work farmland. APDEF said the detainees are being asked to pay $500 for their release and called for an investigation, urging the UN joint human rights office to protect civilians.

In eastern DRC, fighting has escalated between the national armed forces (FARDC) and an AFC/M23 coalition linked to the Twirwaneho group. The clashes around the strategic village of Point Zero, spanning the territories of Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga, have forced thousands of households to flee to Baraka, where they live in schools, churches and makeshift shelters. More than 50 civilians have been killed since mid‑June, and drone bombings have damaged a hospital and agricultural fields, prompting humanitarian concerns.

Both incidents highlight the growing humanitarian toll of rebel‑imposed taxes and intensified armed confrontations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.