Kinshasa: Armed rebels from the M23 group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have been accused of committing grave human rights violations, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances, according to a new report by Amnesty International.
The rights organization stated on Tuesday that these actions, which took place in rebel-controlled territories, breach international humanitarian law and could constitute war crimes.
The accusations follow a resurgence of violence in the region earlier this year. In January, the Rwandan-backed M23 militia seized the key city of Goma in North Kivu, followed by the capture of Bukavu in South Kivu in February, deepening a conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Between February and April, Amnesty researchers interviewed 18 former detainees held by M23 forces in Goma and Bukavu. Many of them reported being imprisoned without charges, often accused—without evidence—of supporting the Congolese government or army. Some detainees weren’t even told the reason for their arrest.
Conditions in detention centers were described as inhumane. Interviewees recounted being held in cramped, filthy cells with little access to food, clean water, medical care or sanitation. Several said fellow inmates died from torture or the appalling conditions. Accounts of abuse included beatings with hammers, shootings, and the use of sticks, cables, and belts to inflict pain.
Relatives of detainees were frequently denied information by M23 fighters, who often refused to admit that the individuals were in custody—acts Amnesty classified as enforced disappearances.
“M23’s promises of restoring order in eastern DRC are a facade for their brutal treatment of civilians,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s regional director for East and Southern Africa. “They use fear and violence to suppress dissent and maintain control.”
Amnesty called on regional powers and international stakeholders to pressure Rwanda to withdraw its backing of M23. The DRC government and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of arming and deploying troops in support of the rebel group—allegations the Rwandan government denies. The UN estimates that approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are aiding M23 operations.
M23 is one of around 100 armed factions operating in the conflict-ravaged, mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. The long-running violence has displaced over seven million people, including at least 100,000 this year.
Despite statements from both M23 and the Congolese military pledging to pursue peace, fighting continues. The rebels have previously threatened to march toward the capital, Kinshasa, more than 1,600 kilometers away.
In April, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to work on a peace agreement, with a commitment to cease support for armed groups and uphold each other’s territorial integrity. However, the implementation of that pledge remains uncertain as hostilities persist.
