East Congo province under attack and relief efforts
Rwandan and Congolese officials remain locked in a dispute over commitments under a Washington-brokered peace deal, with UN experts noting M23 remains active and minerals continue to flow from conflict zones. Western governments have stepped up sanctions, and the ICJ case against Rwanda has widened the international response.
Health authorities have reported at least 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases and about 600 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since mid-May, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. The World Health Organization has enrolled the first patient in a trial testing MBP134 and remdesivir; treatment centres are strained and insecurity and funding shortfalls are hindering response.
Frontline workers at Ituri’s Ebola response facilities have struck over unpaid wages as the Bundibugyo outbreak expands to more provinces. The situation adds strain to an already overwhelmed health system, with clinics at capacity and mistrust hampering containment efforts. New cases have been confirmed in Haut-Uele and Tshopo, raising the outbreak’s regional footprint.
Aston Villa has announced Visit Rwanda as the front-of-shirt sponsor across men’s, women’s and academy teams in a multi-year agreement. Amnesty International UK has raised concerns about Rwanda’s human rights record and sportswashing, while DR Congo has accused Rwanda of backing rebel groups and military actions in eastern Congo.
A global humanitarian picture shows funding shortfalls and ongoing emergencies across Mozambique and Somalia. OCHA and NGO reports highlight displacement, disease, food insecurity and the need for sustained aid amidst conflict and climate shocks. New funding gaps risk undermining relief efforts and recovery.
Two articles report on the Congo’s Ebola response amid ongoing unrest. Health workers warn that strikes and mob attacks are complicating response efforts as the outbreak continues to expand, with thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths across Ituri province.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has intensified, with WHO confirming rapid spread across 48 health zones in five provinces. WFP warns that food assistance is frontline in containment, while UN agencies scale flights, meals, and rations to affected communities amid rising hunger and movement restrictions.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached over 4,000 confirmed cases with about 1,900 deaths, and is progressing at an unprecedented rate. Health workers face unpaid wages, security threats and misinformation while WHO and Africa CDC coordinate trials and vaccination efforts amid a volatile security situation.
The DRC has recorded the largest-ever Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths, and international agencies are racing to respond. WHO and partners have allocated 70,000 Ervebo doses—20,000 for a Phase III trial and 50,000 for frontline workers—while CEPI has awarded up to $16.5m to advance a Minapharm Bundibugyo vaccine into early human trials. Uganda has received MBP134 antibody vials as a precautionary measure.
Since mid‑May the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 5,600 Ebola cases and about 2,700 deaths; the outbreak has spread across six provinces and is covering an area larger than France. The UN and aid groups have warned infections are rising faster than the international response, funding is running short and frontline workers face attacks and heavy losses.
The DR Congo government and M23 rebels have agreed on a roadmap for peace talks, backed by international mediators, to implement the Doha Framework. A ceasefire verification mission is set to monitor violations as fighting persists in North and South Kivu, with concerns over sanctions, detainees and political reforms.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is spreading across eastern Congo, with thousands of cases and deaths reported. Health workers are receiving Ervebo under compassionate-use rules as vaccination campaigns expand amid ongoing insecurity and displacement. WHO warns the outbreak remains out of control while vaccines are being tested for effectiveness against Bundibugyo.
A fire at Furaha and Ujamaa schools in Bukavu, DR Congo, has killed at least 24 children with many more injured. The blaze destroyed roughly 300 homes in Kadutu; authorities say the cause remains unknown amid Congo’s security challenges and a new spike in Ebola cases.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths as of Sept. 26–28, 2026. The outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has reached 63 health zones in seven provinces. Health workers are dying, vaccine supplies are short in some areas and services are collapsing as responders struggle to detect cases and deliver timely care.
Amnesty International has documented alleged abuses by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels at artisanal mines in North and South Kivu, including torture, killings, and forced labor. The report covers January 2025 to March 2026 and cites 26 interviewees across Rubaya and Lomera mines, with claims of smuggling minerals to Rwanda amid ongoing conflict.
A vessel carrying fish traders and goods capsized near Idjwi Island in South Kivu, Congo, killing or trapping many on board. Rescue efforts are under way, with about 15 people rescued so far. Officials say the cause remains unclear as authorities confirm ongoing searches.