Over 1 Million Students Affected by Conflict in DR Congo

The ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has severely impacted the education sector, with more than 1 million students unable to attend school due to armed violence and mass school closures, Education Minister Raïssa Malu confirmed on Wednesday.

According to Malu, the recent escalation of violence by the March 23 Movement (M23)—a Rwanda-backed armed group—has led to the closure of 2,594 schools in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. This crisis has left exactly 1,108,962 children without access to education.

Of the shuttered schools, 1,483 are in North Kivu and 1,111 in South Kivu. Many have been bombed, destroyed, or occupied by armed groups, turning them into military bases.

Malu highlighted the serious security risks surrounding the reopening of schools, particularly in areas under M23 control, where the group is reportedly pushing to resume education despite unsafe conditions.

"The ongoing war in eastern DRC undermines all efforts to improve education for Congolese youth," she stated.

Even before the latest wave of conflict, DRC’s education system in the east was under immense strain, largely due to mass displacement.

According to UNICEF, more than 6.5 million people—including 2.6 million children—have been forced to flee their homes, further disrupting schooling and basic services.