The Democratic Republic of Congo's National Assembly has adopted a bill to extend the state of siege in North Kivu and Ituri provinces for an additional 15 days, starting October 14, 2026. The decision was made after a general debate, with the Minister of State for Justice, Guillaume Ngefa, justifying the move by citing ongoing insecurity in the east of the country.
According to Minister Ngefa, the state of siege is not only a legal requirement but also a strategic necessity to effectively pursue security operations on the ground. The FARDC continues to conduct operations against armed groups, including the RDF/AFC/M23 coalition, while civilian populations continue to face violence.
The Minister of State also mentioned attacks attributed to enemy forces, including drone strikes, and the surrender of 39 elements who were taken to a regrouping center. He emphasized that the situation on the ground shows that the path to peace is still far to be achieved.
Several national deputies expressed concerns about the persistence of insecurity in the east, particularly in the territories of Beni, Mambasa, and Djugu, which are facing violence attributed to various armed groups. They also raised questions about the protection of civilians, the situation of displaced persons, and the functioning of civil jurisdictions in provinces under a state of siege.
In response to deputies' concerns, Minister Ngefa highlighted the budgetary constraints affecting the functioning of justice in the DRC, with an annual budget of approximately $50 million, nearly half of which goes to staff salaries. He also took note of the observations and proposals made by the elected officials regarding the functioning of justice in the northeast and the evaluation of the state of siege.
The state of siege was introduced in May 2021 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces as an exceptional measure to strengthen the state's response to armed groups, protect civilians, and restore public authority in insecure areas. The Constitution provides for the possibility of extending the state of siege for successive periods of 15 days, subject to the authorization of the National Assembly and the Senate.
The adoption of the bill by the National Assembly is a step in the parliamentary procedure for extension, and the text will now be transmitted to the Senate for examination and adoption in a second reading.
Key points
- The DR Congo parliament has extended the state of siege in North Kivu and Ituri provinces for an additional 15 days.
- The state of siege aims to tackle persistent insecurity and armed groups in the region.
- The extension was justified by the Minister of State for Justice, citing ongoing insecurity and the need for a strategic necessity to pursue security operations.
