This week, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), fighting continues despite peace agreements. UN Yemen envoy discusses recent escalation. UN human rights chief welcomes Colombia’s repatriation efforts.
In DRC, Fighting Continues Despite Peace Agreements
Despite the peace agreement that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed in December 2025, as well as a framework agreement for a peace deal that the Congolese government and M23 rebels signed in November 2025, violence continues to plague eastern DRC. On September 29, 2026, the UN Security Council held a meeting on the DRC in New York. The DRC’s permanent representative, Zenon Ngay Mukongo, condemned a drone strike attributed to the Rwandan Defence Force on a Congolese position in Pinga which killed five people on September 20.
The DRC alleges more than 300 people were killed in June and July in areas held by Rwandan forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group. Rwanda denies these claims, and denies backing the M23. On September 8, 120 former fighters of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) were repatriated to Rwanda.
Mukongo urged the Council to suspend the participation, deployment and rotation of Rwandan contingents in UN peacekeeping operations until that country’s Armed Forces withdraw from DRC’s territory. He insisted that DRC will continue to defend its territory.
UN Yemen Envoy Discusses Recent Escalation
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg discussed the recent escalation of violence in Yemen during his three-day visit to Cairo which began on September 28, where he met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy. A statement by Grundberg’s office said the meeting discussed “the recent escalation in Yemen and its regional repercussions, including in the Red Sea, as well as UN efforts to end the conflict sustainably.”
Grundberg expressed his “appreciation for the continued support provided by Egypt and the Arab League to the mediation efforts led by the United Nations.” The statement provided no further details.
An Andolu Agency correspondent reported that the talks were part of UN diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the military situation in Yemen.
On September 22, 2026, the The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 128,000 people across the country had been displaced by fighting since August 1. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), this number represents a 78 percent jump from pre-escalation numbers. The NRC also reported that 15,000 people had made their way to NCR-supported displacement sites in the southern governorates of Taiz, Lahj and Abyan.
Earlier in September, the Houthi armed group captured the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha in September 2026.
UN Human Rights Chief Welcomes Colombia’s Repatriation Efforts
On September 28, UN human rights chief Volker Turk welcomed Colombia’s repatriation efforts involving former leaders and army officers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), the country’s most prominent rebel group, who recognized their responsibility for gross human rights violations and abuses, as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law during the armed conflict.
The FARC-EP former leaders and officers are now working in the San Antonio de Padua cemetery in Pitalito, Huila, attempting to locate and identify the disappeared, and return their remains to their families.
Turk said, “Ten years since the signing of Colombia’s historic Peace Agreement, these measures are helping advance the rights of victims of the country’s devastating armed conflict, and paving the way for truth, justice, reparations and sustainable peace and security.”
Keywords: DRC, Congo, Yemen, Colombia, repatriation, humanitarian, crisis, refugees, displaced, ceasefire, peace, conflict, conflict resolution
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
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