Violence and Displacement Surge in North Kivu, Despite Patrol Gains

A September 2026 UN OCHA monitoring report shows that the protection environment in North Kivu has not improved. July and August saw intensified clashes between armed groups and coalitions, frequent incursions and ambushes driven by food shortages, and ongoing reprisals against civilians suspected of collusion. The violence triggered numerous atrocities, a rise in sexual violence near Virunga National Park, and large-scale forced displacement. Highlights include a sharp decline in major attacks in August thanks to patrols, but a rise in extortion, illegal taxation, and targeted killings in Beni. New displacement waves hit Masisi and Walikale as armed elements repositioned. Ebola response structures in Butembo were again targeted, limiting medical access, while collective abductions of women followed by rapes were reported mainly in Virunga, Nyiragongo, and Walikale.