DR Congo: Amnesty Accuses M23 of Torturing and Executing Civilians in Detention

Edited by: Widad WAHBI

Amnesty International has accused the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda, of torturing and killing civilians held in unlawful detention in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In a report released Tuesday, the human rights organization alleges that M23 fighters have committed grave violations in areas under their control since the group’s resurgence in 2021.

According to the report, M23 currently occupies significant portions of eastern DRC, having seized major cities including Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, in January, and Bukavu, the capital of neighboring South Kivu, in February. In an effort to assert control and crack down on perceived threats, the group is said to have arrested hundreds of civilians in both cities—accusing them of collaborating with the Congolese military, civil society groups, or of possessing weapons.

Amnesty says it interviewed 18 civilians who were allegedly held in M23-run detention centers in Goma and Bukavu. Nine of them reported being subjected to torture while in custody. Detainees claim that no evidence was ever presented to justify their detention or the accusations leveled against them. Some were allegedly imprisoned for speaking out about M23’s abuses or for simply being suspected of ties to the government.

Eyewitness accounts gathered by Amnesty describe dire conditions in the detention facilities: overcrowded and unsanitary cells, food and water shortages, and a lack of access to medical care. The report warns that “hundreds of civilians” remain imprisoned in these inhumane conditions.

In response, an M23 spokesperson rejected the findings, calling them “grotesque and unsubstantiated accusations.” The group announced plans to publish a “detailed report” refuting Amnesty’s claims and defending its actions.