Yasmin Bilal
Human Rights Watch has accused M23 rebels and Rwandan forces of committing killings, sexual violence and abductions during their occupation of the eastern Congolese city of Uvira between December 2025 and January 2026.
In a detailed report titled “We Are Civilians!”, the organisation says armed fighters carried out widespread abuses against civilians after taking control of parts of the city. The findings are based on more than 120 interviews with survivors, witnesses and relatives conducted in March and April 2026.
The report documents summary executions, enforced disappearances, rape and abductions. Human Rights Watch says armed personnel conducted house-to-house searches in several neighbourhoods, targeting civilians suspected of links to local militias. Many victims were shot in their homes or in the streets, while others were taken away and remain missing.
It further alleges that sexual violence was used systematically during the occupation, with survivors describing assaults by armed men in residential areas and during raids. Families in affected communities reported ongoing uncertainty about the fate of relatives who were taken during the operations.
Human Rights Watch says the abuses occurred during a month long period when M23 fighters and Rwandan forces controlled the city following intense fighting in South Kivu province. The organisation describes the incidents as part of a broader pattern of serious violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where multiple armed groups continue to operate amid ongoing instability.
The report highlights the humanitarian impact on civilians, including displacement, fear and the disappearance of family members, as communities continue to deal with the aftermath of the violence. It also points to difficulties faced by survivors in accessing medical, psychological and legal support in areas where infrastructure and services remain limited due to insecurity.
According to the findings, many residents fled their homes during the fighting, seeking safety in nearby areas or across provincial borders. Others remained trapped in their communities with limited access to food, healthcare and protection services. The organisation says the scale of displacement added further pressure to already-strained humanitarian conditions in eastern Congo.
Human Rights Watch has called for accountability measures and investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law, arguing that documented patterns of abuse require sustained attention from regional and international bodies to prevent further harm to civilians.