Massacres and sexual assaults perpetrated by unidentified groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo documented by international humanitarian organizations
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), women face danger everywhere, from their homes and fields to displacement camps. Amnesty International's latest report details harrowing accounts of torture, abductions of journalists and lawyers, and at least five summary executions.
The investigation, based on over 50 victim and witness testimonies, focuses on sexual violence, forced disappearances, and targeted attacks on civil society. The victims were largely from the Hutu and Nande communities, and the report implicates the M23 rebels as the perpetrators.
The resurgence of the M23 since 2021 has destabilized the mineral-rich provinces of North and South Kivu, displacing over two million people this year alone. The M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, seized the South Kivu town of Bukavu in February and the regional capital Goma in January.
The violence in eastern DRC is systematic and widespread, targeting civilians indiscriminately through rape, execution, and terror. Survivors have described being forced on marches, witnessing relatives butchered, and narrowly escaping execution. Reports also detail mass rapes by fighters in uniforms resembling those of the M23, with many assailants speaking Kinyarwanda.
Human Rights Watch's findings highlight large-scale killings near Virunga national park in July, with an estimated death toll of over 140 people and potentially surpassing 300. One woman recalled rebels ordering her group to sit by a riverbank before opening fire.
Amnesty International is pressuring both Rwanda and the Congolese government to bring perpetrators to account. Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty's regional director, has stated that the brutality of the belligerents knows no limits, and both countries must stop deflecting blame and bring perpetrators to account.
The United Nations has halted an investigation into rights abuses in eastern DRC due to a lack of funding. HRW is calling on Rwanda to allow independent forensic access to rebel-controlled areas. The group also urges the UN Security Council, the EU, and governments to expand sanctions and pursue prosecutions.
Peace negotiations in Qatar and regional diplomatic efforts have been overshadowed by the mounting civilian toll. Amnesty insists that Kigali (Rwanda) and Kinshasa (Congo) cannot shirk responsibility and must hold perpetrators accountable and protect civilians.
The acts of violence may amount to war crimes, as both organisations underline. The M23 rebels, responsible for systematic and widespread violence against civilians possibly constituting war crimes, are supported by Rwanda, with reports indicating direct involvement or backing of Rwandan troops in their operations.
As the violence in eastern DRC continues, the need for accountability and protection of civilians becomes increasingly urgent.
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