At least 140 civilians have been killed by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last month, marking one of the most severe incidents attributed to the armed group since it re-emerged in late 2021, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). This violence occurred despite a peace process mediated by the United States and Qatar aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the region.
Eyewitness accounts gathered by HRW describe horrifying scenes in the Rutshuru region, near the Virunga National Park, where Rwanda-backed rebels reportedly executed local residents, including women and children predominantly from the Hutu ethnic group. The M23 has categorically denied involvement in the killings, labeling the accusations as erroneous.
The alleged atrocities are noted to have unfolded during a campaign against an armed Hutu faction, the FDLR, established by individuals responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. HRW reports that total fatalities for July could exceed 300, reinforcing similar observations made by the United Nations earlier this month.
Conflicts intensified in January when M23 fighters overran significant sections of the mineral-rich eastern DRC, including Goma, the regional capital. Since then, thousands have lost their lives, and many more have been uprooted from their homes, according to UN estimates.
In the HRW report released Wednesday, it details how the M23 utilized firearms and machetes to assault residents in at least 14 villages from July 10 to July 30, effectively blocking routes to restrict civilians’ escape. An eyewitness recounted a chilling narrative of an attack, stating, "We woke up on 11 July and [the M23] were there in large numbers."
A local woman narrated her traumatic experience, revealing that she survived a massacre when M23 fighters forced about 70 women and children to sit by a riverbank before opening fire. Disturbingly, she and others were instructed to bury the bodies hastily or leave them unburied. Some were reportedly discarded in the Rutshuru River.
Corroboration from 25 witnesses, including medical workers and military personnel, suggests that elements of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) supported the M23 operation. The UN's human rights office echoed these findings, asserting RDF's involvement in the deaths of at least 319 individuals between July 9 and July 21.
Rwanda has condemned such claims, insisting that they undermine the peace efforts. They deny providing military support to M23, although they view eastern Congo as a security concern due to the persistence of armed Hutu groups like the FDLR.
Recent attempts at averting further violence met resistance as the M23 withdrew from ceasefire negotiations, asserting that the DRC's government failed to adhere to previously set commitments. In response, the Congolese military has accused the M23 of breach of the ceasefire.
In light of these developments, HRW has urged international bodies, including the UN and European Union, to denounce the violence witnessed in eastern DRC and apply sanctions against those responsible while advocating for the prosecution of implicated commanders.
