2026 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| See also: | Other events of 2026 History of the DRC | ||||
Events of the year 2026 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Incumbents
[edit]Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 2 January –
- Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels kill at least 16 people during overnight attacks on the villages of Kilonge, Katanga, and Maendeleo in Lubero Territory, North Kivu.[1]
- The DRC assumes a two-year non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the first time since 1991.[2]
- M23 rebels accuse the FARDC of carrying out a drone strike that killed 22 people in Masisi Territory, North Kivu.[3]
- 13 January – At least 13 people are killed while 30 others are reported missing following a landslide in Burutsi, North Kivu.[4]
- 18 January – The FARDC retakes Uvira in South Kivu following M23's withdrawal.[5]
- 25 January – At least 25 people are killed in separate attacks on Apakulu and Walese Vonkutu in Ituri.[6]
- 28 January – More than 400 people are killed in a landslide at the Rubaya mines in North Kivu.[7]
February
[edit]- 1 February – The Congo River Alliance and M23 carry out a drone attack on Kisangani Airport.[8]
- 7 February – South Africa announces the withdrawal of its military contingent from MONUSCO.[9]
- 8 February – The ADF kills 66 people in an attack on Irumu, North Kivu.[10]
- 23 February – The Kavimvira border crossing between the DRC and Burundi reopens following a two-month closure caused by M23 offensives.[11]
- 24 February – Willy Ngoma, the spokesperson of M23, is killed in an FARDC drone strike near the Rubaya mines in North Kivu, along with at least eight others.[12][13]
- 26 February –
- The government and the United States agree to a $1.2 billion strategic health partnership for 2026–2031, including $900 million in U.S. assistance and $300 million in increased domestic health spending.[14]
- Authorities announce the discovery of 171 bodies from two mass graves in Uvira.[15]
March
[edit]- 2 March – A suspected M23 drone attack is carried out on Kisangani Airport.[16]
- 3 March – At least 200 people are killed in a collapse at the Rubaya mines.[17]
- 11 March – Three people, including a French United Nations aid worker, are killed in drone strikes in Goma with the occupying M23 rebels blaming the Congolese government.[18]
- 17 March – A court in Belgium orders former diplomat Étienne Davignon to stand trial on charges of participation in war crimes in connection with the 1961 killing of former Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba. Davignon is the only surviving individual among those accused by Lumumba’s family of involvement in the case.[19]
- 29 March – Veron Mosengo-Omba resigns as general secretary of the Confederation of African Football, amid controversy following the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final decision to strip Senegal of the title after an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.[20]
- 31 March – The national football team defeats Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the inter-confederation play-off final; qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974.[21]
April
[edit]- 2 April – At least 43 civilians are killed in an assault by the ADF in Mambasa, Ituri Province.[22]
- 5 April – The government announces it will begin receiving third country nationals deported from the United States under a new bilateral agreement; facilities begin preparation near Kinshasa, with costs covered by the US.[23]
- 20 April – Authorities announce the rescue of least 200 civilians held captive by the ADF following a joint operation conducted by Congolese troops and the Uganda People's Defence Force along the Epulu river in eastern DRC.[24]
- 27 April – The General Inspectorate of Mines announces the creation of a paramilitary unit to protect the country's mines with the help of US and UAE funding.[25]
- 30 April – The United States imposes sanctions on former president Joseph Kabila over his support for rebels in the eastern DRC.[26]
May
[edit]- 7 May – At least 26 people are killed following ADF attacks on villages in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.[27]
- 9 May – At least 69 people are killed following a CODECO attack in Ituri province.[28]
Holidays
[edit]Source:[29]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 4 January – Martyrs' Day
- 16 January – Laurent-Désiré Kabila Assassination
- 17 January – Patrice Lumumba Assassination
- 14 February – Valentine's Day
- 8 March – Women's Day
- 20 March –
- 6 April – Kimbangu Memorial Day
- 30 April – Education Day
- 1 May – May Day
- 17 May – Liberation Day
- 21 June – June Solstice
- 30 June – Independence Day
- 1 August – Parents' Day
- 23 September – September Equinox
- 27 September – Tourism Day
- 21 December – December Solstice
- 24 December – Christmas Eve
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 31 December – New Year's Eve
Deaths
[edit]- 24 February – Willy Ngoma, 52, military spokesman (March 23 Movement).[30]
References
[edit]- ^ Corey-Boulet, Robbie (2 January 2026). "Islamic State-linked rebels kill 15 in eastern Congo, officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "DRC, Liberia among five new non-permanent UN Security Council members". Africanews. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "M23 rebel group holds a symbolic funeral for victims of drone strike in eastern Congo". AP News. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Landslide in eastern Congo kills at least 13, leaves over 30 missing". Africanews. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Congolese soldiers reenter key eastern city after M23 rebels' withdrawal, army and residents say". AP News. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "25 killed in attack by Islamic State-backed group in eastern Congo, rights group says". AP News. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Bonnerot, Clement (30 January 2026). "More than 200 killed in coltan mine collapse in east Congo, official says". Reuters. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "AFC/M23 rebels claim responsability[sic] for drone attack on Kisangani airport". Africanews. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "South Africa to withdraw troops from UN mission in DR Congo". Africanews. 2026-02-08. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- ^ "IS-linked rebels kill at least 20 in Congo village attack, army says". Africanews. 2026-02-09. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
- ^ "Key DRC-Burundi border reopens after two-month closure". Africanews. 2026-02-23. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "M23 rebel spokesperson killed in Congo army drone strike, officials say". Reuters. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "At least nine dead in Congo drone strike that killed rebel spokesperson, sources say". Reuters. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ Winning, Alexander (26 February 2026). "Democratic Republic of Congo and US agree $1.2 billion strategic health partnership". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "171 bodies found in mass graves in eastern Congo, an official says". AP News. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "Drone attack targets DRC's strategic Kisangani airport". Africanews. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
- ^ "DR Congo mine landslide death toll tops 200: government". Africanews. 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "French aid worker among three killed in DR Congo air strike". Africanews. 2026-03-11. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ^ Matthieu DEMEESTERE; Jeremy AUDOUARD (2026-03-17). "Belgian diplomat ordered to stand trial over 1961 Congo leader murder". Caledonian Record. AFP. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ^ "Veron Mosengo-Omba: Caf general secretary resigns amid Afcon final fallout". BBC. 2026-03-29. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ^ Gleeson, Mark (1 April 2026). "Tuanzebe shines for DR Congo as they qualify for World Cup". Reuters. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ^ "Islamic State-linked rebels kill 43 in eastern Congo, army say". Reuters. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ^ Peyton, Nellie (5 April 2026). "Congo says it will receive third-country deportees under new deal with US". Reuters. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ^ "Ugandan and Congolese forces rescue 200 people from ISIL-linked ADF". Al Jazeera. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ^ "Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding". AP News. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ^ "US hits Congo's former president with sanctions over support for rebels". AP News. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Islamic militants attack Congo villages near Uganda, killing 40 people, local group says". AP News. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ^ "Militia kill at least 69 in NE DR Congo: local, security sources". Digital Journal. Agence France Presse. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ^ "Holidays and Observances in Congo Democratic Republic in 2026". Time and Date. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala; Romain Gras (2026-02-25). "DRC: Willy Ngoma, military spokesperson for AFC/M23, killed in drone strike". The Africa Report. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
