New report links M23 and Rwandan forces to alleged atrocities in East DRC

Lead

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has documented widespread abuses in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Uvira, where the M23 armed group and Rwandan military forces occupied the area for over a month, committing summary executions, rape, and enforced disappearances. The report, released Thursday, details atrocities that have intensified international scrutiny of the conflict, with the United States imposing sanctions on Rwanda's army and commanders.

Coverage Comparison

Three major news outlets—Africa News, AllAfrica, and BBC World—have covered the HRW report, each highlighting different aspects of the findings. Africa News and AllAfrica both emphasized the brutal nature of the occupation, with AllAfrica noting that M23 and Rwandan forces also fired on fleeing civilians. BBC World's coverage included UN experts' accusations that Rwanda has 'de facto control' of M23 operations, adding a layer of geopolitical context to the account.

Key Claims

The HRW report, titled 'We Are Civilians!', documented the occupation of Uvira, South Kivu's second-largest city, from December 10, 2025, to January 17, 2026. According to HRW, more than 50 people were summarily executed during door-to-door raids, with 53 casualties specified in BBC's reporting. The victims included men, women, and children, with one witness describing how four family members were shot as they tried to escape.

The report also documented at least eight rapes, though HRW noted that survivors had almost no access to medical care, including treatment to prevent HIV infection. At least 12 people were forcibly disappeared, and M23 and Rwandan forces were reported to have shot at civilians attempting to flee.

The United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan army and several commanders in March, according to Africa News and AllAfrica, in connection with their alleged role in Uvira's capture.

Perspectives

Human Rights Watch has called for independent criminal investigations, including by the International Criminal Court. Philippe Bolopion, HRW's executive director, stated, 'The occupation of Uvira shows the abusive methods used by the M23 and Rwandan forces,' adding that the organization may have 'only scratched the surface' of the abuses.

The Rwandan government and M23 leadership have not publicly responded to HRW's report, with the organization saying it received no reply to its communications. Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23 or deploying its soldiers in eastern DRC, a stance that contradicts the report's findings and UN expert accusations.

BBC noted that the M23 and Rwandan government had not responded to its request for comment. UN experts have further alleged that M23 recruits are trained under Rwandan supervision and equipped with high-tech Rwandan weaponry, though these claims have not been independently verified by the reporting outlets.