State of the World from NPR The war raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Feb 26, 2026
Emmet Livingstone, a field reporter who covers conflict in eastern DRC, gives on-the-ground reporting from Fizi. He walks through frontline hospital scenes and soldiers’ grievances. He describes the fragile peace deal amid continued fighting. He traces militia networks, ethnic tensions, mass displacement, and harrowing civilian suffering.
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Wounded Soldiers Treated At Remote Hilltop Hospital
- Corporal Jean-Baptiste arrived at a Red Cross–supported hilltop hospital with a deep bullet wound and screamed during treatment.
- Soldiers arrive steadily, some unpaid for six months, illustrating army disarray and resource shortages.
Peace Deal Did Not End Fighting
- Eastern Congo's fighting continues despite a US-brokered peace deal and President Trump's declaration that the war was over.
- Emmet Livingstone reports M23 launched a large offensive, captured major cities, but clashes and offensives persist across the region.
Gold Rich Highlands Drive Conflict Expansion
- The conflict has spread into Fizi's gold-rich highlands, shifting battles into remote villages and valleys.
- Fighting over mineral wealth intensifies violence and displaces over hundreds of thousands across the region.