DRC: Over 4,000 grave violations against children recorded by the UN in 2025

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded 4,114 grave violations against children during 2025, according to data published by the United Nations (UN). This toll, presented by the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, places the country third globally, just behind Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and ahead of Nigeria, Myanmar, and Somalia.

According to RFI, these figures do not represent the total number of child victims, but the volume of documented offenses, noting that a single person may suffer multiple abuses. The recorded acts include killings, injuries, forced recruitment by armed groups, sexual violence, and abductions. Added to this are attacks targeting schools and hospitals, as well as the obstruction of humanitarian access.

The situation remains concerning in 2026. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office has already documented, for the first half of the year alone, 377 distinct violations that directly impacted 606 children. These data confirm the persistence of the risks faced by minors in conflict zones, despite repeated warnings from international institutions regarding the degradation of human rights in the country.

Faced with this crisis, Vanessa Frazier, the UN Special Representative, urges the parties to the conflicts to implement immediate preventive measures. She insists on the imperative to protect health and education infrastructure, to guarantee unhindered humanitarian access, and to bring those responsible for these acts to justice. The organization also calls for strengthening reintegration programs for children released from armed groups.

Our perspective

The protection of children is the foundation of Africa's future. These unbearable figures serve as a reminder that the sovereignty of a state is measured by its ability to guarantee the safety of the most vulnerable. It is urgent that local and continental actors place human dignity at the heart of conflict resolution, so that future generations may be the builders of lasting peace rather than victims of endless cycles of violence.