The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over a dramatic surge in grave violations against children in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as violence intensifies following the latest offensive by M23 rebels. Reports indicate that incidents have tripled in just a month, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention.
UNICEF's latest findings reveal a disturbing increase in cases of sexual violence, abductions, and violent assaults on children. Sexual violence, also affecting women, has risen more than two and a half times, while abductions have increased sixfold. Meanwhile, the number of children killed or maimed has surged sevenfold.
Attacks on schools and hospitals have also escalated at an unprecedented rate, increasing twelvefold compared to previous levels. The widespread insecurity has led to the collapse of essential services, with thousands of schools shutting down and many children becoming separated from their families.
Jean François Basse, UNICEF’s acting representative in the DRC, has called on all parties involved in the conflict to halt these severe violations immediately. He emphasized the need for urgent action to restore security and ensure the protection of vulnerable children.
The conflict has also fueled the forced recruitment of children into armed groups, a longstanding issue in the DRC. Since 2012, the United Nations has worked with the Congolese government on an action plan to end child recruitment and other abuses, including sexual violence.
To address the crisis, UNICEF has intensified efforts to reunite unaccompanied children with their families. Since the latest outbreak of violence, 1,200 unaccompanied children have been identified, with 720 successfully reunited with their families. For those whose families remain untraceable, UNICEF is placing them in foster care for temporary protection.
The UN agency has also stressed the importance of accountability, urging the international community and the Congolese government to bring perpetrators to justice and end the cycle of impunity.
The conflict in the eastern DRC continues to escalate, with M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—advancing through the mineral-rich North and South Kivu provinces. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of deploying forces to exploit the DRC’s natural resources, while neighboring Burundi has supported the regular Congolese army in its fight against the rebels.
Uganda has also entered the conflict, claiming to combat the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), but is suspected of aligning with Rwanda and the M23. The situation has further strained regional relations, especially after the recent killing of 20 soldiers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) contingent by M23 forces.
The ongoing conflict bears striking similarities to the Second Congo War (1998–2003), where SADC played a crucial role in defending the DRC against foreign-backed insurgencies.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict is worsening, with over 500,000 people displaced in North and South Kivu in the latest offensive alone, adding to the already staggering 7 million internally displaced persons across the DRC. Reports indicate that at least 7,000 people have been killed in the past month.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the growing regionalization of the crisis calls for a coordinated African response. With the humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly, a more decisive intervention may be necessary to prevent further instability and bloodshed.