Conflict in Eastern Congo Shuts Down Over 2,500 Schools, Affecting 1.1 Million Children
The recent surge in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has forced the closure of 2,594 schools, severely impacting education in the conflict-ridden region, authorities reported Wednesday. The Education Ministry confirmed that 1,483 schools in North Kivu and 1,111 in South Kivu have shut down, leaving 1.1 million children without access to education.
The statement highlighted the dangers students and teachers face, including unexploded ordnance and the destruction of educational institutions, with some schools even being converted into military bases or cemeteries.
The M23 rebel group, which has been intensifying its territorial control since December, has escalated attacks in the region, capturing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. The violence has not only devastated communities but has also specifically targeted schools, making education a direct casualty of the ongoing war. The Education Ministry condemned the situation, calling it a “war on our future,” as the conflict continues to disrupt learning and endanger young lives.
According to Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, more than 7,000 people have died in the conflict this year alone, a grim toll she presented at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday. The deteriorating security situation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to protect civilians and restore education in the embattled region.
