The human rights landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presents two sharply contrasting realities, as revealed by Paul Nsapu, President of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). During a live discussion on Tuesday, Nsapu acknowledged legislative progress under President Tshisekedi’s administration but emphasized the stark divide between conditions in Kinshasa and the eastern provinces.

Structural violations in Kinshasa

In the capital, Kinshasa, Nsapu identified persistent violations of civil, political, economic, and social rights. These include access to education, healthcare, and employment—issues he attributes to systemic failures across successive governments. Despite legislative reforms, the daily lives of citizens have seen little improvement due to chronic underdevelopment and governance gaps.

Nsapu described these violations as structural, rooted in decades of neglect and institutional weaknesses. While the situation in Kinshasa is concerning, it does not compare to the severity of abuses in the eastern regions.

Severe abuses in eastern DRC

In the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and parts of Ituri, Nsapu painted a far grimmer picture. Here, the most fundamental rights—the right to life, security, and individual freedom—are routinely violated. The President of the CNDH explicitly pointed to the presence of Rwandan military forces and their allied armed groups as a major aggravating factor. These groups operate in areas beyond the control of Kinshasa’s authorities, exacerbating insecurity and human suffering.

The eastern DRC remains a hotspot for violence, with civilians bearing the brunt of ongoing conflicts. Nsapu’s assessment underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the nucleus of human rights abuses in these regions.

Key takeaways

• Paul Nsapu highlights a dual reality in DRC’s human rights landscape: structural violations in Kinshasa versus severe abuses in the east.
• Structural violations in Kinshasa stem from systemic governance failures and underdevelopment.
• Eastern provinces face extreme violations, including loss of life and security, exacerbated by foreign military presence.