Cholera Epidemic Rapidly Spreading Across The Country

Over the last year, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been embattled by a new wave of conflict and atrocity crimes. At the beginning of the year, M23 rebels seized several regions, including Goma, the provincial capital, and other regions, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands being forced to flee and seek safety in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. As M23 was spreading havoc across the DRC, the UN has been reporting on conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence, summary executions, abductions, enforced disappearances, targeted attacks against human rights defenders, journalists, other civil society actors and peacekeepers, and the bombing of sites for displaced persons, hospitals and schools, among others. In February 2025, in response to the ever-growing reports of the deteriorating situation in the country, and as fighting between Government forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group intensified, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution agreeing to establish a fact-finding mission on the serious human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the eastern DRC.

More than 21 million Congolese are affected by multiple crises, be it armed conflict, natural disasters, and epidemics. However, the situation is only going to deteriorate as the cholera epidemic spreads across the country. Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection. Although it is treatable and preventable, without proper care, it can quickly become fatal. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns that the outbreak is one of the worst in a decade, while the health care system remains unequipped to respond to and slow down an outbreak of this scale.

According to MSF, some 20 of the country’s 26 provinces are now affected. Between January and mid-October, the Ministry of Health reported more than 58,000 suspected cases. More than 1,700 deaths have been recorded. As reported by MSF, the situation continues to worsen, spreading to new health zones, including provinces where cholera was not previously endemic: “Floods, conflicts, and displacement, as well as inadequate sanitation and water supply systems, have contributed to fueling widespread epidemics of water-borne diseases. As the rainy season approaches, the situation is likely to deteriorate, further increasing the risk of disease transmission and contamination.”

The cholera response is said to be facing major obstacles, including insufficient funding by the Congolese government, limited presence of humanitarian agencies, and a lack of coordination in the emergency response mechanism. Other challenges include: weak surveillance and case identification systems, a lack of medical personnel and supplies, and limited vaccine distribution further compromise the implementation of a rapid, effective, and sustainable response.

The fatality rates in the DRC are highly concerning. While the World Health Organization suggests that the fatality rate in treatment centers should remain below 1%, DRC is experiencing a fatality rate exceeding 3%. The contributory factors include poor hygiene conditions, insufficient access to clean water, and a lack of sanitation. Such factors are of particular concern in densely populated areas and large cities such as Kinshasa.

The responses are said to be significantly hampered by logistical difficulties, security risks, administrative barriers, and supply issues. Similarly, access to health care continues to be a significant challenge for communities with long distances; a lack of transport and security concerns make it difficult to reach medical facilities.

As the MSF emphasizes, cholera must be placed at the top of the national agenda as a major threat to public health in DRC. The organization calls for coordinated action to ensure the rapid provision of medical care, including the availability of vaccines, unhindered access, and sustainable investment in access to safe drinking water and sanitation. As the DRC continues to struggle with armed conflict, natural disasters, and epidemics, more needs to be done to provide assistance to the people and whole communities affected.