Bottom Line

Ebola has reached Nord-Ubangi, the eighth affected province in the DRC, while Kenya’s cluster has risen to seven cases, including three health workers. The government has suspended 13 political parties following the creation of Joseph Kabila’s Front pour la refondation de la nation, although none of the parties has formally joined the new politico-military coalition. In the east, attacks attributed to the ADF killed at least ten people at mining sites in Mambasa, while fighting and road closures continued to disrupt parts of North and South Kivu.

Health

Ebola reaches Nord-Ubangi as Kenya’s cluster rises to seven cases

Two Ebola cases have been confirmed in Nord-Ubangi, making the province on the Central African Republic border the eighth affected province in the DRC. Separately, Kenya confirmed four additional cases linked to its first patient, bringing the national total to seven infections and one death. Three of the newly confirmed patients are health workers who treated the first patient, while the fourth is another relative. Authorities had traced and quarantined 128 of 130 identified contacts.

North Kivu suspends most activity for province-wide “Stop Ebola” day

Schools, shops, places of worship and most other nonessential activities in North Kivu are due to close today for a province-wide Ebola-control operation. Health facilities, pharmacies, response teams and security services are exempt. Provincial authorities also temporarily restricted entry from Ituri and limited passenger numbers on public transport.

Government excludes 72 Ebola-response organizations under new disclosure rules

The government has barred 72 of the 97 organizations involved in the Ebola response from operating in the field after they failed to meet new accreditation and financial-disclosure requirements. Only 25 organizations had supplied the required information. The affected partners have not been named publicly, but response funding has largely flowed through international agencies and NGOs selected directly by donors.

Cholera burden exceeds 51,400 suspected cases

The DRC has recorded more than 51,400 suspected cholera cases and 1,487 deaths across 21 provinces this year. In Kalemie, 94 patients were receiving treatment, including 65 from the Kalemie health zone, where health officials linked transmission to the use of untreated water.

Politics and Diplomacy

Government suspends 13 parties following creation of the FRN

Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani has suspended the activities of 13 political parties nationwide. Alongside Joseph Kabila’s PPRD, the order covers parties whose leaders participated in or were associated with his October 2025 opposition conclave in Nairobi. None of the 13 parties has formally endorsed or joined the Front pour la refondation de la nation, and several PPRD figures have rejected Kabila’s turn to armed opposition. The directive does not give individualized reasons for the suspensions.

Belgian investigation develops into bilateral dispute

The presidency has barred its personnel from contact with the Belgian Embassy after Belgian police searched properties linked to people close to President Félix Tshisekedi. Belgium objected to the restrictions, and Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner met Belgian Ambassador Roxane de Bilderling as the two governments sought to contain the dispute. First lady Denise Nyakeru has denied allegations of money laundering associated with the investigation.

FRN opens academic year despite Kinshasa restrictions

Authorities aligned with the Front pour la refondation de la nation opened the 2026–27 academic year in Goma and Bukavu, despite Kinshasa’s suspension of six public higher-education institutions in areas outside government control. The competing directives deepen the parallel administration of higher education in AFC/M23-controlled territory.

Security and Eastern DRC

Attacks attributed to the ADF kill at least ten at Mambasa mining sites

At least ten people were killed and others abducted in attacks on Makimbilio, Biasiko and Makamanda in the Babila-Babombi chiefdom. Local accounts attributed the attacks to the ADF. Separately, the UN humanitarian office recorded 77 civilians killed by the ADF in Mambasa during September.

Fighting and road closures deepen disruption across North and South Kivu

FARDC and Wazalendo forces fought the FRN around Kibati in Walikale for a third day, while clashes were also reported in Masisi and around Minembwe. The FRN’s closure of the Goma–Walikale road has raised prices in Walikale, and the Nzibira–Shabunda road has remained blocked for about four weeks amid reports that fighters were demanding local recruits. In Masisi’s Ufamandu I area, four health facilities have been destroyed during the conflict, leaving displaced residents without nearby care.

FARDC–Wazalendo fighting kills two and displaces residents in Nyunzu

Two people were killed and residents fled Lengwe in Nyunzu territory during fighting between FARDC soldiers and Wazalendo fighters.

FARDC suspends foreign travel for generals and senior officers

The military has suspended all new foreign-travel authorizations for generals and senior officers until further notice and canceled previously issued authorizations that had not been used. The order followed an October 14 meeting of the Superior Defense Council and came three days after Joseph Kabila launched the FRN. The government has not publicly explained the restriction.

Justice and Humanitarian Affairs

Makala holds 16,238 prisoners in space designed for 1,500

Kinshasa’s Makala central prison is holding 16,238 prisoners in facilities designed for 1,500. More than 11,000 are in pretrial detention. The prison population has doubled in a little over a year without a corresponding budget increase. Authorities have released 108 detainees in a new effort to reduce overcrowding.

Bulungu prison reports one death and more than 90 detainees critically ill

One detainee has died and more than 90 others are reported to be in critical condition at Bulungu prison in Kwilu. Local officials attributed the deterioration to inadequate food and medical care.

MSF treated more than 10,000 sexual-violence survivors in Sake

Médecins Sans Frontières treated more than 10,000 survivors of sexual violence in Sake over 13 months before transferring the program to Première Urgence Internationale. The caseload reflects the scale of conflict-related and other sexual violence around the North Kivu town.

Economy, Mining and Infrastructure

Kamoa-Kakula brings large solar-and-battery system fully into operation

Kamoa-Kakula has brought the first phase of a 433-megawatt-peak solar park and 1,107-megawatt-hour battery system fully into operation. The installation can supply 60 megawatts continuously to the copper complex in Lualaba. The operator plans to double continuous output to 120 megawatts within 18 months.

Mercuria deals connect Congolese copper and zinc to new export arrangements

Mercuria says it has delivered 12,000 tonnes of Congolese copper to the United States’ Project Vault strategic stockpile. Separately, Gécamines finalized an offtake agreement with the trader for up to 240,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate from the Kipushi mine.

Civil-society groups and TFM dispute safety significance of tailings-dam exercise

Seventeen civil-society organizations warned of a possible failure involving TFM’s TSF3 and TSF5 tailings facilities near Kibalasani after a community evacuation exercise. Tenke Fungurume Mining said the exercise was precautionary and that the facilities were stable and being monitored.

Transport and Public Services

Provincial opposition widens to the wooden-boat ban

The Maï-Ndombe governor and the Tshopo provincial assembly have *called for a delay to the November 15 ban on wooden baleinières***, warning that abrupt enforcement could disrupt food supplies, freight and passenger transport in areas with few alternatives. The Senate has separately summoned Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba over repeated fatal river accidents.

Government says 490 additional Kinshasa buses will enter service by year-end

Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba has announced that 490 “Esprit de vie” buses will enter service in Kinshasa before the end of 2026. The buses are intended to ease the capital’s public-transport shortage.