Three Kidnapped Teachers Freed After Ransom Payment

Rutshuru March 14, 2026 - Three of the five teachers abducted earlier this week in Busanza, in Rutshuru Territory, have been released after a ransom payment, while two others remain in captivity, according to local education authorities. The victims were kidnapped on March 11 by unidentified armed men in two separate incidents targeting teachers and school officials traveling along key roads in the area. According to Félix Gakiza, spokesperson for the local teachers’ union, approximately $1,000 was paid to secure the release of three of the hostages. Those freed were part of a group of five education workers, including a school principal, a deputy headmaster, and several teachers from different primary schools in the Busanza area. The remaining two victims are still being held by their captors. The first abduction occurred on the Kinyandonyi-Rugarama road in Mutego, where two school officials and their driver were intercepted while returning from Kiwanja. A second incident took place hours later on the Kitagoma-Kidandari road, where three other educators, including a school director, were kidnapped. The teachers’ union strongly condemned the attacks, highlighting the growing insecurity targeting educators in conflict-affected zones. “Teachers are apolitical actors and deserve protection,” Gakiza stressed, calling on security forces to guarantee their safety as they continue working under increasingly difficult and dangerous conditions. These incidents underscore the persistent security challenges in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians, including education personnel, remain vulnerable to kidnappings and armed violence.