The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is affected by numerous conflicts taking multiple forms and involving more than two hundred armed groups and other armed actors (national or foreign). Armed confrontations are the main cause of population displacement in the country.
Most human rights violations and abuses have been committed in the provinces affected by the armed conflict in the east of the country (North and South Kivu, Ituri), with civilians being the main victims. Conflicts are also taking place in the provinces of Kasaï and Katanga, as well as in the west in the province of Mai-Ndombe. The conflict in Mai-Ndombe has repercussions as far as the rural areas of Kinshasa (Maluku commune). During January 2025, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)/Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) coalition intensified fighting in North and South Kivu. On 26 January 2025, AFC/M23 troops supported by Rwandan forces entered the city of Goma. On 14 February 2025, AFC/M23 troops took control of Kavumu airport and two days later occupied the city of Bukavu.
Regarding Kinshasa, sporadic security incidents were reported during 2024, including demonstrations, an attempted coup, an escape from Makala prison, and some incidents in the rural area of Maluku commune due to the conflict taking place in the neighbouring province of Mai-Ndombe. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office regards the province of Kinshasa as unaffected by armed conflict. Since the deterioration of the security situation in the east in 2025, apart from demonstrations against Western embassies, no major security incidents have been reported in Kinshasa.
Policy
The policy implemented by the Commissioner General is based on a thorough analysis of accurate and up-to-date information on the general situation in the country of origin. This information is collated in a professional manner from various, objective sources, including the EUAA, the UNHCR, relevant international human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional literature and coverage in the media. When determining policy, the Commissioner General does not only examine the COI Focuses written by Cedoca and published on this website, as these deal with just one aspect of the general situation in the country of origin. The fact that a COI Focus could be out-of-date does not mean that the policy that is being implemented by the Commissioner General is no longer up-to-date.
When assessing an application for asylum, the Commissioner General not only considers the actual situation in the country of origin at the moment of decision-making, he also takes into account the individual situation and personal circumstances of the applicant for international protection. Every asylum application is examined individually. An applicant must comprehensively demonstrate that he has a well-founded fear of persecution or that there is a clear personal risk of serious harm. He cannot, therefore, simply refer back to the general conditions in his country, but must also present concrete, credible and personal facts.
There is no policy paper for this country available on the website.