A United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has come to a halt due to a critical lack of funding. The probe, launched by the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025, aimed to investigate reports of mass killings, sexual violence, and other grave human rights abuses in the conflict-ridden provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had allocated a budget of $3.9 million for the Commission of Inquiry (COI), but donor shortfalls and depleted reserve funds have left the investigation without the necessary resources to proceed. An emergency internal allocation of \$1.1 million allowed for preliminary groundwork, but that funding has since been exhausted.
According to UN officials, the financial shortfall is part of a broader funding crisis that has impacted multiple UN initiatives. Delayed contributions from member states and a sharp decline in voluntary funding—particularly following significant foreign aid cuts by the United States in recent years—have worsened the situation. The OHCHR has reported a \$60 million drop in voluntary contributions this year alone.
The OHCHR had already gathered initial evidence pointing to possible war crimes, including summary executions and widespread sexual violence. The DRC government has welcomed the investigation, while other member states, including South Africa, have expressed concern over the delay. Critics warn that stalling the investigation undermines international accountability efforts and weakens the credibility of the UN’s commitment to human rights protection.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that the current financial constraints are severely impeding the ability of human rights bodies to carry out their mandates. He warned that unless regular funding is secured through the UN’s main budget by 2026, the effectiveness of such investigations will continue to be compromised.
The crisis comes amid worsening violence in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has taken control of key territories with alleged support from Rwanda. The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and led to alarming reports of human rights abuses, including the discovery of mass graves.
While diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, and parallel talks are being facilitated by Qatar with the M23 rebels, the absence of a robust international investigation threatens to leave victims without justice.
As pressure mounts on the UN to restore the commission’s work, human rights advocates stress the urgent need for sustainable funding mechanisms to prevent impunity and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. Without decisive action, the risk remains high that serious crimes will go unpunished, further destabilizing an already fragile region.