More than 26 million malaria infections were recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2025, with the disease claiming nearly 30,000 lives, according to official data released over the week-end.
The National Malaria Control Programme recorded 29,938 malaria-related deaths during the year, highlighting the continued burden of the disease on the country’s healthcare system and communities.
The programme’s deputy director, Guy Dembo, said malaria remained the DRC’s main public health challenge and called for stronger collective efforts to combat the disease.
Dembo said the government had launched a mass administration of anti-malarial drugs earlier this week in Ituri province as part of efforts to strengthen prevention and accelerate the response to malaria. He urged authorities, health professionals, development partners and communities to intensify efforts towards malaria elimination.
The World Health Organisation says malaria continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually across Africa, with young children bearing the heaviest burden.