- Human Rights Watch claims Rwandan-Supported M23 Group in July 2025 executed more than 140 citizens, mainly ethnic Hutu people, in at least 14 villages and small agricultural communities in East DRC.
- The murders seem to be part of a military campaign against the Democratic forces for the liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a mostly Rwandan Hutu -armed group formed by participants in Rwanda’s genocide of 1994 and other opposite armed groups.
- The UN Security Council and governments must impose further sanctions on those responsible for serious abuses and prosecution of commanders involved in war crimes.
A new report from Human Rights Watch has fingered RwandanBacked M23 rebels for the summary version of more than 140 citizens, who were Aminly Ethnic Hutu, in at least 14 villages and farms in July 2025 near Virunga National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic Congo.
Human Rights Watch said reports show that the number of people killed in Rutshuru territory since July can amount to more than 300, so that the incidence is registered among the worst atrocities by the M23 rebels since the revival in the country at the end of 2021.
Between 10 and 30 July Human Rights Watch said that M23 rebels went on a disaster, briefly performed locals, including farmers, women and children, in their villages, fields and near the Rutshuru river over the Binza Administrative subdivision (group) in Rutshuru Territory, the province of Noord -Kivu.
According to the UN witness reports, and military sources indicate that the Rwandan army, the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), was also involved in the M23 rebel activities in the area.
“The M23 -the armed group, which has the support of the Rwandan government, attacked a dozen villages and agricultural areas in July and committed dozens of summary executions of mainly Hutu citizens,” said Clémentine de MontjoyeSenior Great Lakes researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“Unless those responsible for this war crimesIncluding at the highest levels, in the right way are investigated and punished, these atrocities will only intensify. “
From mid-July to mid-August, Human Rights Watch said that it interviewed 36 people by telephone, including 25 witnesses, as well as activists on the spot, medical employees, military and UN staff and other sources informed.
Human Rights Watch added that it analyzed videos and photos with forensic pathologists, and confirmed accounts with the help of cards and satellite images with regard to preventing.
Moreover, the rights group compiled a list of 141 people who were killed or missed and feared. On August 6, the UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be reported that “at least 319 citizens were killed by the M23, supported by members of the Rwanda Defense Force, in four villages between 9 and 21 July in […] Rest. “
This figure confirms the Human Rights Watch information certificate received from other sources. Human Rights Watch claimed that it also received information that the M23 rebels carried out another 41 citizens in the Binza group between 30 July and 8 August, but this could not be confirmed independently.
Human Rights Watch wrote to the Rwandan authorities and Bertrand Bisimwa on August 7, the M23 Rebels Group Leader, on 8 August to request information about the murders, but received no answers.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (Congo River Alliance, or AFC), the political-military coalition that includes the M23 rebels, on August 7 rejected The allegations of the UN. On August 11, the Rwandan government rejected the allegations of the UN that the Rwandan army was involved in the operations, and claimed That an armed group has performed the murders against the M23 rebels.
Human Rights Watch documented or obtained credible information about murders in July in the places of Busesa, Kakoro, Kafuru, Kasave, Katanga, Katemba, Katwiguru, Kihito, Kiseguru, Congo, Lubumbashi, Nyamilima, Nyabanira and Rugbons. These areas were then identified under M23 control and various M23 commanders in some locations.
Witnesses of attacks said that M23 hunters told them that they had to bury the bodies in the fields immediately or they should not leave, so that families prevent families from organizing funerals. M23 rebels also threw bodies, including women and children, in the Rutshuru River.
Military campaign against opposite armed groups such as FDLR
The mass murders seem to be part of a military campaign against opposite armed groups, in particular the troops Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (Democratic troops for the liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR), a largely Rwandan Hutu -the Genocide of 1994.
In the murders reported to Human Rights Watch were the most victims of ethnic hutu and, to a lesser extent, ethnic nande. The targeting of the M23 of Hutu citizens who live near FDLR -Bolwerken calls serious concerns about ethnic cleansing in Rutshuru Territory, Human Rights Watch said.
The research by Human Rights Watch indicates that the military operations of the M23 were performed by the 1st battalion of the 1st Brigade, under the command of Colonel Samuel MushGara and Brig. Gene. Baudoin Ngaruye, respectively.
General Ngaruye is under Sanctions for his role in M23 war crimes. Residents also described the participation of Rwandan forces in the M23 operation, in which they identified Rwandan soldiers by their uniforms and their accents. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights And military sources confirmed the involvement of the Rwandan army in the operations.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Rwandan government, that effectively checks the territory that occupies the M23 rebelsmust allow UN and independent international forensic experts, including the fact mission on Congo, to retain and analyze evidence war crimes.
The group also calls on the UN Security Council, the European Union and governments to condemn these serious abuses, explains Further sanctions on those responsible for abuseand press for the arrest and the correct prosecution of commanders involved in war crimes.
Donor governments that offer Rwanda military help urgently needs to revise their programs to ensure that they do not feed violations, Human Rights Watch adds.
June 27 US-Stroktered Peace Agreement
The murders in Rutshuru-territory will come weeks after a provisional agreement in a mediated from the United States peace signed on June 27 between Congo and Rwanda, that required Congo to implement a plan to ‘neutralize’ the FDLR while Rwanda withdraws from Congolese territory.
It also requires that the parties protect citizens, also by facilitating the freedom of movement of the UN peace mission, known as Monusco. The agreement Joint security coordination mechanism Should crimes in the context of any anti-FDLR activities are credibly investigated, Human Rights Watch said.
“The M23-massal murders of the Rwanda-stundled M23 throw in sharp focus the gaps that exist between rhetoric on the international stage and the Reality for citizens In Eastern Congo, “De Montjoye said.” Governments looking for peace agreements remain bound by the Laws of WarAnd those people who are responsible war crimes Must still be fully investigated and brought to court. “
Also read: M23 rebels take ‘instructions’ from Kigali as Kampala ‘Dubbelt’ troops in DRC – UN
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