Atrocities in DR Congo: Rebels Allegedly Kill 140 Civilians Amid Peace Efforts

A report from Human Rights Watch highlights that M23 rebels executed at least 140 civilians, including women and children, in eastern DR Congo last month. This violence comes despite attempts at peace negotiations facilitated by the US and Qatar, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to bring stability to the region.

M23 rebels have reportedly killed at least 140 civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last month, marking one of the worst atrocities attributed to the group since its resurgence in late 2021, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. This violence occurred despite ongoing peace negotiations brokered by the US and Qatar aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict in the region.

Witness accounts collected by HRW detail that the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels executed local residents, targeting members of the Hutu ethnic group in the Rutshuru area, situated near the Virunga National Park. The group has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as "a blatant misrepresentation of the facts." They also did not respond to HRW’s requests for comments regarding the report's claims.

The alleged massacre unfolded during a campaign against an armed Hutu group, the FDLR, established by individuals responsible for the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The rights group noted that total killings in July could surpass 300, corroborating earlier reports from the United Nations.

Conflict in the eastern DRC escalated when M23 troops seized large territories, including the significant regional capital Goma, in January. The UN has reported that thousands have been killed, and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced due to ongoing hostilities.

In its report, HRW detailed horrific accounts of violence: M23 fighters utilized machetes and firearms to attack at least 14 villages and farmlands between July 10 and 30, systematically blocking off escape routes for locals. Survivors recounted harrowing tales, including witnessing family members killed and being subjected to shooting drills by the rebels. One woman described how she narrowly survived after being forced into a river during an execution.

M23 fighters reportedly ordered locals to bury their deceased relatives either hastily or leave them unburied, obstructing traditional mourning processes. The body of a woman and children were reportedly discarded into the Rutshuru River, highlighting the extreme brutality of the acts.

The report incorporated testimonies from 25 witnesses, medical personnel, military members, and UN staff, indicating involvement by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in supporting the M23's operations. The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights corroborated that the RDF was implicated in a wave of violence that resulted in "at least 319 killings" across several villages during mid-July.

While the Rwandan government has consistently denied providing support to the M23, they claim an armed group opposing M23 is responsible for the violence, dismissing allegations from the UN as baseless and potentially damaging to peace efforts.

As region-wide peace initiatives continue to falter, including an agreement aimed at dismantling the FDLR, the M23 has recently distanced itself from a ceasefire agreement signed with the DRC government in Qatar, arguing that Kinshasa has not adhered to its commitments. Despite plans to resume talks, the Congolese army has accused M23 of violating the ceasefire.

HRW has called on the UN Security Council, the European Union, and international governments to condemn these severe human rights abuses, calling for sanctions against responsible individuals and emphasizing the need for accountability for the ongoing violence in eastern DRC.