Funding shortfall slows investigation into possible war crimes in the DRC

Displaced by war. Photo: Reuters

 

A United Nations‑mandated commission set up to investigate alleged human rights violations and war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been suspended indefinitely due to a severe shortfall in funding at the U.N. human rights office (OHCHR).

In February, delegations at the Human Rights Council in Geneva green‑lit a formal Commission of Inquiry to collect evidence on massacres, sexual violence, and other atrocities in North and South Kivu—regions convulsed by the recent takeover of Goma and Bukavu by rebel forces linked to Rwanda. The commission was allocated a modest budget of roughly $3.9 million, with an initial $1.1 million emergency draw from OHCHR resources to launch its work.

But now, just six months later, the probe has ground to a halt. In a letter from U.N. High Commissioner Volker Türk, OHCHR officials warn that stalled contributions—especially from key donor countries—have slashed their voluntary funding by $60 million this year, eroding critical reserves. Türk cautioned that these budgetary and staffing constraints are “critically impeding investigative work.”

Head of OHCHR’s Investigations Support Unit, Alex El Jundi, told council delegates the delay is “regrettable,” noting preliminary evidence of summary executions and extreme sexual violence. He emphasized that many of these suspected abuses may rise to the level of war crimes.

M23 rebel fighter in Goma, a hotspot of recent human rights investigations. Photo: Reuters

Beyond undermining accountability, the halt sends a worrying signal. South Africa’s envoy criticized the suspension as a “grave mistake,” while the DRC’s representative warned it creates the impression that the OHCHR does not consider the Congo crisis a priority.

OHCHR told Reuters that it’s lobbying for restored regular budget funds by 2026 to resume the Commission of Inquiry and is exploring cost‑cutting measures, such as staff reallocation.

This suspension not only impedes justice but also potentially delays the delivery of evidence vital for prosecutions by bodies like the International Criminal Court. With atrocities in Kivu showing no signs of abating, advocates warn that unless financial support is restored, perpetrators may escape scrutiny and accountability.