M23 rebels accused of executing civilians in Goma amid worsening DRC conflict

DDM News

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of executing at least 21 civilians in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the shocking revelation was contained in a report released by HRW on Tuesday, alleging serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by the rebel forces.

According to the report, the executions took place between February 22 and 23, 2025, in the Kasika neighbourhood of Goma, a region already gripped by insecurity.

HRW disclosed that on February 22, dozens of M23 fighters entered Kasika and shot seven individuals in the head near the Katindo military camp, a former Congolese army base.

Later that same day, the corpses of 11 more victims, including a young boy, were discovered at a nearby construction site, just 100 metres from the camp.

The following day, February 23, M23 rebels allegedly rounded up about 20 men near a local sports field and accused them of being members of the Congolese army.

According to eyewitnesses, the men were suspected of resisting forced recruitment by the rebel group.

Three of the detained men who attempted to escape were reportedly gunned down on the spot.

Human Rights Watch noted that testimonies from survivors and witnesses placed direct blame on M23 for the gruesome killings.

The report added that M23 targeted the Kasika area due to reported Congolese military activity in the vicinity.

Clémentine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at HRW, described the events as part of a broader campaign of terror aimed at consolidating M23’s grip on Goma.

She stated, “The M23’s brutal control over Goma has created a climate of fear among those perceived to be allied to the Congolese government.”

She further asserted that the executions appeared to be deliberate orders from the M23 leadership rather than rogue actions by undisciplined fighters.

Medical personnel in Goma reportedly confirmed that over 50 bodies were recovered during the two-day period, indicating the death toll may be significantly higher.

The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has intensified since January 2025, when M23 forces seized Goma and, subsequently, the city of Bukavu in February.

The resurgence of violence has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, adding to the region’s humanitarian crisis.

M23, or the March 23 Movement, has a long and controversial history in eastern Congo, having previously captured Goma in 2012 before retreating under international pressure.

The group is widely believed to receive support from neighbouring Rwanda, though Kigali has consistently denied any involvement.

On May 27, Amnesty International released a separate report echoing HRW’s findings, accusing M23 rebels of killing, torturing, and forcibly disappearing civilians in Goma and Bukavu.

Amnesty warned that the abuses could amount to war crimes under international law.

“These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,” Amnesty International stated in its report.

In response, M23 and its political partner, the Congo River Alliance, issued a joint statement on May 30, denying all allegations of human rights abuses.

The statement claimed that the group respected international law and accused the Congolese government of fabricating evidence to tarnish their image.

However, mounting testimonies and independent investigations appear to contradict M23’s denials.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an investigation into the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in North Kivu.

The court is gathering evidence from multiple sources to determine the extent of abuses carried out by all parties in the conflict.

Meanwhile, international pressure is growing on Rwanda to clarify its relationship with the rebel group amid widespread condemnation from the United Nations and the African Union.

Diplomatic efforts to broker peace in the region have so far yielded limited results, as fighting continues in parts of North and South Kivu provinces.

Analysts warn that unless international actors intervene more forcefully, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate.

Calls are mounting for an urgent ceasefire and the deployment of a neutral peacekeeping force to protect civilians and restore stability.

Eastern Congo has been the epicentre of violent conflict for decades, with multiple armed groups competing for control over mineral-rich territories.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, facing mass killings, sexual violence, and displacement on a horrific scale.

The United Nations estimates that over 6 million people have been displaced within the DRC due to ongoing violence.

Human rights organisations are urging the international community to act swiftly to prevent further atrocities and bring perpetrators to justice.

For now, residents of Goma and surrounding areas remain trapped between a ruthless insurgency and a weak state response.

As investigations continue, global attention is once again focused on the DRC, where the human cost of conflict grows by the day.

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