Human Rights Watch has accused M23 rebels and the Rwandan army of carrying out killings, rapes and abductions during a month-long occupation of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo spanning late 2025 into early 2026.
According to the report, the armed group briefly seized the city in December before withdrawing weeks later under pressure from the United States. During that period, researchers documented 53 summary executions, eight cases of rape and 12 enforced disappearances.
Witness accounts describe fighters opening fire on civilians attempting to flee and conducting door-to-door operations, targeting men and boys accused of links to pro-government militias.
Both Rwanda and M23 have repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses, instead accusing Congolese forces and allied groups of targeting Tutsi communities. There was no immediate response from either party to the latest findings.
The conflict in eastern Congo has remained volatile despite ongoing mediation efforts by international actors, including Washington, which in March imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and senior officials over alleged support for the rebel group.
Recent developments suggest a partial de-escalation in some areas. M23 fighters have withdrawn from several positions in South Kivu province, including areas around Uvira, pulling back roughly 30 kilometres north.
Still, the report underscores the human cost of the conflict, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of a crisis that has drawn in regional actors and defied repeated diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region.
