Bukavu, South Kivu, 08 May 2026 — Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirms that all staff involved in a security incident in Mwenga territory, South Kivu province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have safely returned to Bukavu. The organisation reiterates concerns over the repeated risks faced by humanitarian and calls on all armed actors involved in the conflict in DRC to respect humanitarian action, refrain from politicising aid, and ensure that humanitarian and medical personnel can work safely to reach communities in need.
On 1 May, an MSF team traveling between Mwenga, Kamituga, and Kitutu in South Kivu as part of an assessment of humanitarian and medical needs were involved in a security incident.
“After safely passing several checkpoints controlled by Wazalendo elements along the way, our team was stopped at one of them,” said Julia Garcia Zamora, MSF Head of Mission in South Kivu, eastern DRC.
“Despite informing all relevant authorities and health actors in advance of the team’s travels and planned humanitarian activities, there was confusion and disagreement among the armed men regarding who we were, why we were there, and whether we should be allowed to pass. The situation then escalated with armed men firing among themselves while our team were caught in the middle.”
The situation then escalated with armed men firing among themselves while our team were caught in the middle.
Concerned for their safety, the MSF team wanted to return. However, amid the armed presence of Wazalendo elements — allies of the Congolese army (FARDC) — combined with heightened stress, the team was urged to continue towards Mwenga.
“We acknowledge the constructive and positive engagement that took place following the incident to facilitate the team’s safe travel and the continuation of their humanitarian activities in Mwenga,” said Garcia Zamora. “However, incidents such as these are neither isolated nor limited to one armed group. Our teams should not have to risk their lives while carrying out much needed medical and humanitarian aid.”
“What we have seen in the aftermath of this incident is a clear instrumentalisation and politicisation of aid, with false and dangerous accusations online about MSF and our humanitarian mandate, even going so far as to incite violence against us. This is completely unacceptable. It can lead to security risks for our teams and hamper our ability to effectively provide medical care to people in need," added Garcia Zamora.
MSF continues to engage with actors concerned and expects clear follow-up to clarify how such an incident was allowed to have happened and that concrete measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Our teams should not have to risk their lives while carrying out much needed medical and humanitarian aid.
This latest incident comes at a time when MSF is raising concerns over the lack of concrete progress in the protection of medical and humanitarian personnel, despite the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2286 ten years ago. A decade later, hospitals, ambulances, patients, and medical staff continue to come under attack in conflicts around the world, including in eastern DRC, with devastating humanitarian consequences.
It also follows recent commitments made during discussions in Switzerland between representatives of the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 alliance and their allies regarding the protection of civilians and humanitarian access in eastern DRC.
MSF remains committed to providing impartial medical care to people in South Kivu and across DRC, working in 16 of the country’s 26 provinces. Our teams respond to people affected by conflict, violence, displacement, and disease outbreaks. Key activities include surgical care for wounded, treatment of malnutrition, HIV and tuberculosis care, reproductive health services, paediatric care, malaria management, prevention and response to disease outbreaks, and mental health support.
MSF is an independent, neutral, and impartial medical humanitarian organisation whose primary objective is to provide emergency medical care to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare.
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