Press Conference on the Humanitarian Crisis and threats against Human Rights Defenders working on the rights of refugees and IDPs in DRCongo

Press Conference on the humanitarian crisis and the protection of human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday August 27^th, 2026

Following the arbitrary arrest and detention of Bishop Jose Rashidi in Makala Kinshasa on orders from the Minister of social affairs, actors of the Civil Society have come together in order to advocate for her release, engage the government of the deteriorating environment which human rights defenders documenting refugees and IDPs rights violations are working in and calling upon the president to immediately revoke Minister Eve Bazaiba.

Being highly involved in advocacy on issues around refugees and IDPs rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, COJESKI-DRC was highly involved and plays a big role in order to shape the orientation of various actions.

Finally the Press Conference took place today at CEPAS Catholic Center in Kinshasa, this event was supposed to take place on Tuesday at the Office of Human Rights Commission but it was cancelled by the President of Human Rights Commission without a clear reason.

This Conference is part of our series of activities we are putting in place in order to alert the public at large on the humanitarian crisis in DRC and call upon the release of Bishop Jose Rashidi. We started with following up her situation when she was arrested in August 17^th, 2026, we have mobilized a legal team, we addressed an Open Letter to the President of DRC and other Government Institutions and now we had also this Press Conference.

Despite of threats and intimidations this Press Conference happened in particular situations in which participants feared political repression and some did not attend or just left before it even began. Some allegations which we could not verify claimed the CEPAS administration was asked not to allow our press conference because it would damage the reputation of the Minister, during the activity a person who also attended presented himself as an Agent of the National Intelligence Service who came with no clear motive, and the same time we had planned for this media briefing the President of DRC was launching a public national Campaign of solidarity in favor of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees in DRC.

We started from the general situation of the war since 2022 up to now which has displaced thousands of people in eastern DRC among the some are Internally Displaced Persons others are refugees in neighboring countries. We acknowledge the absence of clear statistics and recognized the total absence of the state in this humanitarian crisis.

We also expressed serious concerns over the arbitrary arrest and detention of Madam Jose Rashidi who is accused of tarnishing the reputation of the Minister of Social Affaires Madame Eve Bazaiba, Jose made a short video on Tick-Tok lamenting about the minister’s total absence in the situation of this humanitarian crisis.

The Minister Eve Bazaiba called her for exchange and immediately she was arrested and detained, we highly protest against that way of doing things and contest her detention because she should have been granted a court bail because there is no doubt her running away.

Lastly we concluded by asking the President of DRC to put aside the Minister Eve Bazaiba and open investigations about all humanitarian funds which have been allocated in order to help all Congolese in need.

The Press Conference ended by questions by Journalist which focused on our position towards ending the war which is the root cause, the current national dialogue, the amount of funds embezzled by the Minister and the next move in case the President of DRC does not take actions, and answers were provided basing on our best capacity. We committed ourselves to continue with various activities until the DRC Government gets committed and makes the humanitarian crisis a national priority.

Find here in the link the open letter addressed to DRC President calling upon him to take immediate action to revoke the Minister of Social Affairs, Madame Eve Bazaiba https://cojeskidrcongo.org/letter-to-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-president-calling-upon-the-resignation-of-eve-bazaiba-the-minister-of-social-affairs/