During a visit to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, called on armed groups to guarantee safe access to aid for millions of civilians. Following discussions she described as "frank and constructive" with leaders of the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23), she stressed the urgent need to respect international humanitarian law.
Goma, the epicenter of the violence ravaging eastern Congo, served as the stage on Friday for an urgent appeal from the European Union on behalf of the civilian population. On a mission to the Great Lakes region, Hadja Lahbib met with leaders of the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23), a rebel coalition including the M23, to secure the opening of safe humanitarian corridors.
“I came to Goma with a humanitarian mandate. Aid must reach people in need without delay, through secure humanitarian corridors,” the European Commissioner told the press, stressing the need to protect civilians. “International humanitarian law must be respected to protect populations. This is a shared responsibility at the regional level. I have taken this message to Kinshasa, Bujumbura, and Kigali. I have received commitments from all parties I have met, and I hope they will be implemented so that this mission is successful.”
This stop in Goma was part of a regional tour that took Hadja Lahbib successively to Kinshasa, Bujumbura, and Kigali. At each stop, the European official reiterated the same message: “The situation is catastrophic. There are increasing and blatant violations of international humanitarian law. Our workers are risking their lives to save others,” she warned, relaying the concerns of international NGOs and United Nations agencies operating in extremely difficult conditions, particularly in camps for displaced persons.
According to the United Nations, the DRC is experiencing one of the world's most serious humanitarian crises, against a backdrop of persistent conflict and mass displacement. In response to this emergency, the European Union has mobilized €81.2 million in aid for the Great Lakes region.
The M23, which the UN and several Western countries suspect of benefiting from the support of Kigali, controls vast territories in the east of the country, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which fell under its control in early 2025. The safe passage of humanitarian aid remains hampered, however, as humanitarian corridors are often blocked or subject to restrictions, while Rwanda rejects these accusations.
According to multiple reports, Burundian troops are deployed in the DRC alongside government forces to counter the M23. Since December 2025, thousands of Congolese displaced by the violence have found refuge in Burundi, increasing the pressure on an already fragile region.
“We are becoming the world’s leading global humanitarian actor, particularly here in the Great Lakes region. But we need help to do our job,” insisted Hadja Lahbib, stressing the need for strong international support to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations.
