Unlike previous reports that focused mainly on human rights violations and humanitarian suffering, this latest assessment highlights a deeper and more dangerous shift: armed groups, particularly M23, are no longer just fighting — they are governing.
From Rebellion to Parallel Governance
According to the UN experts’ interim report circulated in early January 2026, the M23 armed group has established what the UN describes as a “parallel state” in parts of North and South Kivu.
In territories under its control, M23 has reportedly:
Set up administrative structures
Established local courts and policing systems
Imposed taxation and fees on civilians
Managed mineral extraction and trade
Acted as the primary authority, replacing the Congolese state
This marks a significant evolution in the conflict. The UN notes that M23 is no longer operating solely as a rebel force but as an alternative governing power, exercising political, economic, and security control over civilian populations.
Civilian Impact and Legal Concerns
The report warns that this form of governance is being enforced in a climate of violence and coercion. UN experts document:
Killings and arbitrary arrests
Forced recruitment
Restrictions on movement
Attacks on civilians
Some of these actions, the report states, may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under international law.
The transformation of armed groups into de facto authorities also raises serious concerns about accountability, as civilians living under such control have little access to justice, protection, or basic rights.
A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Alongside the governance findings, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a separate update this week highlighting worsening humanitarian conditions elsewhere in the country, particularly in Ituri province.
Key findings include:
Dozens of civilians killed or injured in recent clashes Tens of thousands newly displaced
Entire areas inaccessible to humanitarian organizations for weeks
Severe shortages of food, water, and medical care OCHA warns that continued insecurity is preventing aid from reaching people who urgently need it, compounding one of the world’s largest displacement and food insecurity crises.
Why This Report Matters
This latest UN reporting represents a shift in how the international community understands the conflict in eastern DRC.
The issue is no longer only about battlefield violence or sporadic abuses — it is about the erosion of state authority and the entrenchment of armed governance.
When armed groups collect taxes, run courts, and control resources, reversing their influence becomes far more difficult. It also complicates peace negotiations, humanitarian access, and any future efforts at state rebuilding.
The Bigger Picture
The UN’s findings underscore a sobering reality:
Eastern DRC is facing not just a security crisis, but a governance crisis
Civilians are trapped between armed rule and state absence Without accountability and sustained international engagement, parallel systems of power may become permanent As the UN Security Council continues to debate the future of peacekeeping and regional diplomacy, this report serves as a stark warning:
the longer armed governance is allowed to take root, the harder peace will be to achieve.
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