The political system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is paralyzed due the manipulation of the electoral process by political elites, and is heavily influenced by a long-running conflict in the east of the country. Citizens are increasingly unable to freely exercise basic civil liberties, and corruption is endemic. Physical security is tenuous due to violence and human rights abuses committed by government forces and armed rebel groups, particularly in the east.

• After winning elections in late 2023 that were marred by significant logistical and security problems, historically low turnout, and allegations of fraud, incumbent Felix Tshisekedi began his second term in January. An observer mission run by the country’s Roman Catholic and Protestant churches released its final report in June, assessing the presidential election and concurrent legislative and local elections as featuring “numerous irregularities likely to undermine the integrity of the election results,” but stopping short of calling the polls fraudulent.
• Three prominent opposition figures—Jean-Marc Kabund, leader of the Alliance for Change party; Mike Mukebayi, a former member of the provincial parliament for Together for the Republic; and Seth Kikuni, head of the Track for Emergence party, and who ran for president in 2023—were in prison at year’s end. Kabund was serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted in 2023 on charges including insulting the head of state; Mukebayi was also arrested in 2023 and was awaiting trial on similar charges. Kikuni was arrested in September after criticizing Tshisekedi at a rally, and sentenced to one year in prison in November for “civil disobedience.” Protesters rallied in Kinshasa in September to demand their release.
• In October, journalists Érasme Kasongo Kalenga and Patrick Lokala and were arrested after alleging embezzlement of mining royalties by the Kyona Ngoie chiefdom, and criticizing the judiciary, respectively. Kasongo was held overnight, and Lokala was released on bail weeks later, in late November,
• Conflict in eastern provinces, particularly involving the M23 rebel group backed by Rwandan authorities, persisted during the year. Ongoing mediation under the Luanda Process, aimed at easing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda over security and rebel groups, was deadlocked at year’s end. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that by the end of May, 1.77 million people in North Kivu had been displaced by M23 attacks, and noted an increase in sexual violence and exploitation targeting women and girls.
• M23’s occupation of mining districts in eastern DRC, and resulting disruption to civilian life and governance, exacerbated forced labor and child labor.

This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.

For additional background information, see last year’s full report.