TED Support to the DRC on Transitional Justice

For decades, the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced recurring local and regional conflicts. The rapid M23 offensive in early 2025 sharply intensified the security and humanitarian crisis across North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Mass prison breaks during the takeover of major towns have further weakened national efforts to combat impunity, with over a hundred individuals accused or convicted of international crimes now at large.

The EU and its Member States have long invested in justice and security sector reforms to help rebuild the rule of law and support reconciliation. Today, this work is gaining new momentum. Under the Team Europe+ umbrella, EU Member States active in transitional justice - including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden - are joining forces with Switzerland, Norway and the UK to strengthen coordinated support.

TED has been tasked to map all their actions in support of transitional justice and, based on this, to propose strategic options for a more coherent collective “Team Europe+” engagement on supporting transitional justice in the DRC. 

Two consultants have started the assignment in October 2025 and were deployed to Kinshasa in November to meet the EU Delegation, Member States +, government counterparts and civil society actors. Their findings confirm the need for comprehensive mapping, particularly since many transitional justice initiatives are managed from capitals - an area where TED’s added value is decisive. 

The consultants are now back in Europe for a final consultation round and will present three possible plans for common Team Europe+ engagement. A draft report is expected on 15 December and will remain confidential, with finalisation foreseen for January 2026.