Recovery of 62 Ebola patients in eastern DRC highlights progress amid an outbreak centered in Ituri, where armed conflict and crowded displacement camps hinder health efforts. Survivors urge early hospital visits and adherence to medical guidance, while the government emphasizes unified action and increased funding. Confirmed cases have reached 1,003 with 254 deaths, and 100 people have recovered since the outbreak was declared on May 15.

A nationwide strike in the Democratic Republic of Congo shut down activity in Kinshasa as opposition groups protested a National Assembly bill enabling a referendum on constitutional changes. Opponents accuse President Félix Tshisekedi of attempting to extend his rule beyond 2028. The strike revealed widespread public frustration over economic hardship and political uncertainty, while analysts said the opposition successfully linked legal and economic grievances ahead of the 2028 election. Rising tensions over the proposed constitutional overhaul and remarks tying future elections to ending conflict in eastern Congo have fueled fears of further unrest.

The first Ebola patient in Ituri was discharged after recovery, signaling progress in controlling the Bundibugyo virus outbreak. Health teams say the case proves treatment is effective despite public mistrust and misinformation. Authorities highlight ongoing challenges as the disease spreads in conflict‑affected eastern regions, where insecurity and population displacement hinder surveillance. The health minister stresses that controlling Ebola requires full restoration of security, accusing Rwandan forces of supporting rebels destabilizing the area. Effective outbreak response now depends on both medical efforts and improved political and security conditions.

Opposition groups and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo formed the C64 coalition to resist proposed constitutional changes supported by President Felix Tshisekedi and the ruling party, warning that the reforms could remove term limits and undermine democracy. Analysts caution that the debate is deepening political divisions and may destabilize the country as the president’s current term nears its end. Supporters of the reforms argue they could strengthen national institutions, while critics maintain they pose a threat to democratic governance.

One year has passed since M23 rebels seized and occupied Goma in North Kivu, prompting civil society activists and human rights defenders displaced to Kinshasa to gather for a collective commemoration. Senior government officials, including the prime minister, attended the event as participants reflected on the ongoing crisis in eastern Congo.

Fighting between rival Wazalendo militia factions in Mwenga in South Kivu left eight people dead and caused significant property damage and insecurity. The clashes, driven by disputes over costly roadblocks, ended after one faction withdrew. Residents already affected by high food prices and conflict with M23 rebels face additional hardship. In North Kivu, renewed fighting between Wazalendo forces and AFC/M23 rebels, supported by FARDC airstrikes, disrupted traffic and heightened tensions as both sides accused each other of violating the Doha agreement.

Seven African countries rank among the ten lowest globally in gender parity in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, with Pakistan at the bottom and Sudan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also performing poorly. Sub-Saharan Africa shows uneven progress across economic participation, education, health, and political empowerment, with Namibia leading the continent overall. The DRC faces particularly severe structural inequalities affecting women’s economic, political, and educational opportunities, compounded by climate challenges. Benin and Zambia show the strongest improvements, while Togo, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique decline. Globally, the gender gap narrows slightly, with Iceland maintaining the top position, yet full parity remains more than a century away at the current pace.

A Congolese court sentenced former prime minister Augustin Matata Ponyo to 10 years of hard labor for embezzling public funds tied to the failed Bukangalonzo Agro-Industrial Park project, while two co-defendants received five-year terms. The ruling provoked institutional tension as National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe argued that parliamentary immunity had been violated, while the Constitutional Court insisted on judicial independence. Matata Ponyo rejected the charges as politically motivated, claiming they were aimed at blocking his political ambitions. The case highlighted ongoing friction between branches of government and renewed scrutiny of the costly but unsuccessful Bukangalonzo initiative.

Fighting intensified in South Kivu as Twirwaneho and Red Tabara rebels aligned with M23 attacked local defense groups amid ongoing peace talks in Doha. Despite calls for a ceasefire, M23 continues capturing territory across eastern Congo, including Lunyasenge, where recent clashes left 17 dead. Congolese authorities condemn the offensives as violations of ceasefire agreements, warning they may respond militarily. Regional diplomacy continues involving Congo, Rwanda, Qatar, and the US, while UN figures show millions displaced and hundreds killed in recent months.

M23 rebels captured the strategic fishing town of Lunyasenge in eastern DR Congo after clashes that left 17 people dead. The Congolese army condemned the takeover as a ceasefire violation tied to ongoing negotiations mediated by Qatar and the United States. Local sources reported rebel movements from nearby fisheries, highlighting the strategic value of the Lake Edward region and its access routes into areas under Ugandan influence. Despite recent ceasefire agreements and a US‑brokered declaration aimed at ending hostilities, fighting continues across North Kivu.