The 15 people concerned, all of whom had consented to participating in the operation, left Beni in the north of North Kivu in a convoy on the evening of 6 August. On the morning of 7 August, after passing through Uganda, which had agreed to facilitate passage, the convoy arrived in Rutshuru Territory in the south of North Kivu, where the people who had been released were handed over to the AFC/M23. The operation was carried out in coordination with the health authorities and in strict compliance with Ebola prevention measures, including the provision of a Uganda Red Cross ambulance to address any medical emergencies.
“We hope that this operation will bring some comfort to families who have been separated for so long from their loved ones,” explains Stephanie Eller, head of operations for the ICRC in Kinshasa, “and that it will pave the way for further detainee release operations, as agreed by the parties during various negotiations, bringing some hope to populations affected by the armed conflicts.”
Under the Doha Process, the ICRC is acting exclusively as a neutral intermediary in response to requests from the parties, in particular regarding the safe transport and handover of people released by them.
In May 2025, the ICRC accompanied a series of convoys from Goma to Kinshasa, carrying several hundred disarmed personnel of the DRC Armed Forces and the Congolese National Police, together with their families. The ICRC’s actions are purely humanitarian and in accordance with its mandate and fundamental principles.
The ICRC reiterates that under international humanitarian law, detainees must be treated humanely under all circumstances. All necessary measures must be taken to guarantee their safety during release operations.
About the ICRC
Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to relieve suffering and preserve human dignity during war and armed violence. Alongside our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, we deliver life-saving aid across front lines and strive to reconnect families and locate missing people.
Engaging with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, we advocate for humane treatment of detainees and urge compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm, including online.
