No. Abortion on request is illegal in the DRC. It is only permitted under specific legal circumstances, such as: rape, incest, fetal anomaly, or when the pregnancy severely risks a person’s life or health.
The DRC’s Penal Code still prohibits abortion under Article 165-166 but allows a narrow exception when the pregnancy endangers the person’s life (articulated in the code of medical ethics and the Public Health Law) [1]. In 2018, the government published the Maputo Protocol in the Official Gazette, bringing its provisions into national law. This has legalized abortion in cases of sexual violence, incest, fetal defects, and threats to physical or mental health [2]. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health issued comprehensive abortion-care standards and guidelines in 2020. They define who may provide abortion care, where, and under what circumstances, in alignment with WHO standards and the Maputo Protocol.
Despite legal progress, access to safe abortion varies widely. Penalties in the Penal Code remain, public awareness is low, and many providers and facilities remain uncertain or unwilling to offer these services [3].
