DR Congo: Human rights violations rise 6% in August

The UN Joint Human Rights Office (BCNUDH) recorded 491 human rights violations and abuses in the DR Congo in August 2026, up about 6% from 464 cases in July, with at least 1,264 victims. Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu remained the main areas of violence, and the number of internally displaced people reached 6.1 million. The report recorded 230 victims of conflict-related sexual violence in 65 incidents, including 166 women and 64 girls, an increase of more than 200% from the previous month. Provinces relatively spared from conflict reported 79 cases, up from 47 in July; military courts also heard six cases involving five FARDC soldiers and one PNC police officer.