The UN Human Rights Council Opens an Investigation into Atrocities in Eastern DRC: A New Inquiry to Break the Cycle of Impunity

Following its 37th extraordinary session, the United Nations Human Rights Council decided, through Resolution (A/HRC/S37/L1), to establish a fact-finding mission and an independent commission of inquiry to document serious human rights violations committed in eastern DRC..

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), this decision follows the alarming situation in the region, marked by escalating violence and the involvement of several armed groups, including the M23. Repeated clashes, particularly in North Kivu province, have resulted in mass displacements, atrocities against civilians , andthe illegal exploitation of natural resources.

The fact-finding mission and the commission of inquiry, requested by 79 Congolese, regional, and international human rights organisations, have been mandated to collect evidence, identify suspected perpetrators , and examine the dynamics behind the violence.

Their findings will serve as a basis for potential prosecutionsbefore national or international courts. The UN hopes this initiative will help end the cycle of impunity that has plagued the region for decades

The commission is expected to submit an interim report to the Human Rights Council en septembre 2025. In the meantime, the UN is urging Congolese authorities to fully cooperate with commission and calling on the international community to support monitoring mechanisms and assistance for victims.

For civil society organisations, this initiative marks a significant step forward. The participation of victims and local communities in documenting the facts will be crucial to enhancing the effectiveness and legitimacy of this investigation. NGOs also call for inscreased protection for witnesses and human rights defenders on the ground, whereinsecurity remains pervasive.