Amnesty accuses M23 rebels of possible war crimes in DR Congo

DDM News

Amnesty International has accused M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of committing possible war crimes.

In a report released on Tuesday, the organization claimed that the rebels killed, tortured, and forcibly disappeared civilians in areas under their control.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned that the report links the M23 rebel group to gross violations of international humanitarian law, which may amount to war crimes.

According to Amnesty, the Rwandan-backed militants have carried out widespread abuses since their resurgence and rapid territorial gains earlier this year.

The long-standing conflict in eastern Congo has been marked by repeated cycles of violence since the 1990s, driven by ethnic tensions, political instability, and competition over vast mineral resources.

The March 23 Movement, commonly known as M23, originally formed in 2012 when former members of the Congolese army mutinied, citing the government’s failure to uphold a peace agreement.

The group briefly captured Goma in 2012 before being defeated in 2013 and forced into exile in Rwanda and Uganda.

Despite this setback, M23 resurfaced in late 2021 and launched a new offensive in eastern Congo, rekindling fears of renewed conflict in the region.

The conflict sharply escalated in January 2025, with M23 forces launching a rapid military advance.

They seized large areas of territory in North Kivu Province, including the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February.

Amnesty says it interviewed 18 civilians who had been detained by the M23 in Goma and Bukavu.

Nine of the interviewees stated they were tortured by rebel fighters while in custody.

Many detainees were accused of collaborating with the Congolese army or government, but the rebels failed to present any proof.

Some victims said they were never informed of the charges against them.

Eight detainees reported witnessing fellow prisoners die due to torture or inhumane detention conditions.

The report describes overcrowded, unsanitary cells where food, water, healthcare, and hygiene facilities were grossly inadequate.

Most of the detainees were held incommunicado and denied access to legal counsel or contact with their families.

Amnesty International is calling on the M23 rebels to immediately release all civilians held without charge.

The organization emphasized that all prisoners must be treated humanely and provided access to lawyers and family visits.

Hundreds of civilians have died in clashes between M23 fighters and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).

Ongoing violence has displaced over 1.7 million people in North Kivu alone, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

M23 is one of nearly 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo, many of which compete for control over valuable mineral deposits such as gold, tin, tungsten, and coltan.

The DRC is one of the most resource-rich countries in Africa, yet its people have endured decades of poverty, violence, and displacement.

Despite a recent agreement between the Congolese military and M23 rebels to pursue a ceasefire, fighting has continued.

The fragile truce has failed to stop the violence or improve security conditions for civilians trapped in the conflict zones.

Human rights organizations and international observers have expressed alarm over the deteriorating situation.

They warn that failure to act could lead to more atrocities and further destabilize the Great Lakes region.

The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies.

Regional efforts led by the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU) have tried to mediate peace, but with limited success.

Analysts say that without sustained diplomatic pressure, accountability, and meaningful negotiations, the conflict will likely persist.

Amnesty International insists that justice for victims of abuse must be prioritized.

The organization is urging the international community to pressure all parties to respect international humanitarian law.

It also calls for the deployment of more humanitarian aid to support displaced communities and survivors of abuse.

UN peacekeeping forces remain present in eastern DRC under MONUSCO, but their effectiveness has been widely criticized.

Many Congolese citizens have expressed frustration with the mission, claiming it has failed to protect civilians from rebel attacks.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) stresses that peace in eastern Congo requires more than military solutions.

The cycle of violence can only be broken through a combination of justice, reconciliation, community involvement, and sustainable development.

Amnesty’s findings renew calls for a global response to one of the world’s most overlooked humanitarian disasters.

Silence and inaction, the organization warns, will only embolden perpetrators and deepen the suffering of millions of Congolese people.

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