The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has launched a Fact-Finding Mission on the situation in North and South Kivu (FFMK) in response to escalating hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The mission is calling on individuals, organizations, and groups to submit evidence of human rights violations, war crimes, and abuses of international humanitarian law (IHL) that have occurred in the region, particularly since January 2025.
The FFMK is gathering reports on violence, sexual and gender-based crimes, and crimes affecting women and children. The information collected will contribute to public reports submitted to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly and may also be used in criminal investigations and legal proceedings to hold perpetrators accountable.
Targeting Those Responsible
The UN mission has emphasized its focus on identifying those most responsible for the violations, including individuals, groups, and organizations linked to atrocities. The mission is also seeking information about victims and potential witnesses who can provide firsthand accounts.
The ongoing crisis in North and South Kivu has been marked by massacres, ethnic violence, forced displacements, and systematic attacks on civilians. Armed groups such as the FDLR, CODECO, Mai-Mai, and Wazalendo militias—the latter backed by President Félix Tshisekedi’s government—have been implicated in widespread human rights abuses. Allegations include extrajudicial killings, public executions, torture, and sexual violence, with some of the most heinous acts reportedly targeting Congolese Tutsis, Banyamulenge, and other Rwandaphone communities.
M23 is also accused of crimes against humanity in areas they have captured.
Confidentiality and Security Measures
Given the volatile nature of the conflict and risks to whistleblowers, the FFMK guarantees the confidentiality and safety of those providing information. The mission follows the “do no harm” principle, ensuring that sources are not exposed to retaliation.
Individuals submitting evidence are advised to:
• Use encrypted email services such as ProtonMail or TutaNota when sending sensitive information.
• Avoid including sensitive details in email subjects.
• Delete emails from their devices after submission to prevent data leaks.
All submissions will be handled with strict confidentiality, and no information will be shared or published without the explicit consent of the source.
How to Submit Information
Those with relevant information can submit reports via an encrypted email to submissions-ffmk@un.org in French, English, or Swahili. A submission form is available, but not all fields are mandatory. Special arrangements can be made for submitting large video files or digital evidence.
For further inquiries, the FFMK can be contacted at ffmk@un.org. However, individual acknowledgments of receipt will not be sent, and not all submitted information will be included in public reports.