human rights violations in Democratic Republic of Congo: contrasting realities between Kinshasa and eastern provinces
Kinshasa — During a live discussion on Tuesday, Paul Nsapu, Chair of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, presented a stark analysis of the country’s human rights landscape under President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration. While acknowledging legislative progress, he highlighted two sharply contrasting realities across the nation.
Structural violations in the capital
Nsapu described Kinshasa and surrounding areas as facing systemic human rights challenges primarily affecting civil, political, economic, and social rights. These include access to employment, healthcare, and education—issues he attributes to decades of systemic failures. “Successive governments have left deep scars,” he noted, emphasizing how the lack of development has directly impacted daily living conditions for ordinary citizens.
A graver crisis in the east
The situation in the North Kivu, South Kivu, and parts of Ituri provinces presents a far more alarming picture. Here, Nsapu identified what he termed the “hard core” of human rights violations—those fundamental rights that are non-negotiable: the right to life and security, and the freedom of individuals to live without fear. He explicitly pointed to the presence of Rwandan military forces and their allied militias operating in areas beyond Kinshasa’s control as major exacerbating factors.
“The eastern region is experiencing the most severe violations of human dignity,” Nsapu warned, calling for urgent regional and international intervention to restore stability and protect civilian populations.
Calls for accountability
The CNDH Chair urged authorities to prioritize human rights protection, particularly in conflict zones. “No development can thrive in an environment where basic rights are systematically denied,” he stated, emphasizing that sustainable peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo depends on addressing these deep-rooted issues.
