DR Congo: Restrictive measures obstruct care for sexual violence survivors in North Kivu

Since early 2026, the de facto authorities in North Kivu, the FNR, formerly AFC/M23, have imposed restrictions that hinder access to care for victims and survivors of sexual violence, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says. The measures include intrusive physical examinations, requiring a police report before care, and limiting eligibility to people seeking help within 72 hours of an assault. MSF also objects to forms demanding sensitive personal details and says healthcare workers have faced threats of suspension or imprisonment. Consultations have fallen sharply at several MSF-supported health centers, despite corrective commitments made by FNR leaders in early October.