A UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry into alleged war crimes and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been halted due to lack of funding, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) is facing a financial shortage after some member countries failed to pay in full and the U.S. sharply reduced foreign aid under Trump, deepening the crisis.
In February, the Human Rights Council authorized both a fact-finding mission and a formal Commission to investigate massacres and sexual violence in North and South Kivu, including in Goma and Bukavu after their takeover by M23 rebels.
Alex El Jundi, head of OHCHR’s Investigations Support Unit, said preliminary findings show summary executions and “horrific sexual violence,” many of which may qualify as war crimes.
Although OHCHR allocated $1.1 million from emergency reserves, the Commission remains unfunded. The total needed is $3.9 million. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk warned that staff and budget constraints are “critically impeding” the investigation.
OHCHR hopes to secure regular budget funding by 2026 to resume the work.
