South Kivu: Violence and extortion threaten civilians and aid in DRC

Security and humanitarian conditions are deteriorating in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the Kanyola region of Walungu territory, residents report a climate of terror attributed to AFC/M23 elements. Recent incidents include the summary execution of three young boys and systematic extortion, where local commanders reportedly impose arbitrary fines ranging from 200 to 500 dollars on civilians under threat of death.

Broader humanitarian efforts in the region are also under threat. Documentation shows numerous violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on hospitals, schools, and protected sites. In the Mwenga territory, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to suspend activities and cancel deployments after ten staff members were threatened while traveling from Bukavu. These security challenges, combined with illegal checkpoints and the taxation of humanitarian imports, are obstructing the delivery of essential aid to conflict-affected populations.