The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has announced it can no longer continue investigations into serious human rights violations and alleged war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to a major funding crisis. This setback threatens justice and accountability efforts in one of the world’s most volatile conflict zones.
According to a letter seen by Reuters, the financial shortfall stems from two key issues: failure by several UN member states to fulfill their financial obligations and significant cuts to US foreign aid, both of which have severely affected the UN’s operational capacity. The impact is now being felt directly on the ground in North and South Kivu, where investigations into atrocities committed by multiple armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, Congolese national forces, and allied militias, have come to a standstill.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk recently condemned the widespread abuses in the region, highlighting preliminary findings that include summary executions, mass displacement, and “horrific sexual violence,” often perpetrated during and after military operations. Alarmingly, nearly 40% of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in these provinces are children.
Türk emphasized that his office’s ability to deliver justice and provide support to victims has been “critically impeded” by both financial and staffing limitations. He warned that without immediate funding, the Commission cannot move forward with vital investigations, which are essential for building legal cases, supporting future prosecutions, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.
The OHCHR noted that it is working urgently to secure funding through the regular UN budget by 2026 in hopes of relaunching the Commission’s work. Investigations led by such UN Commissions of Inquiry often provide crucial evidence to international bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The suspension of these investigations comes at a time when violence in eastern DRC has surged, displacing millions and deepening a humanitarian crisis. Human rights organizations are calling for immediate international support to prevent further impunity and to ensure that victims of war crimes do not remain unheard and unprotected.
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