Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of executing at least 21 civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to HRW’s report, the abuses took place on February 22 and 23 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. On February 22, dozens of M23 fighters arrived in Goma’s Kasika neighborhood and shot seven people in the head near the Katindo military camp. Eleven more bodies, including a 15-year-old boy abducted from his home, were found at a construction site about 100 meters from the camp.
The next day, M23 fighters rounded up about 20 men near a sports field in the city, accusing them of belonging to the Congolese army. Sources believe the men were being forcibly recruited, and three men who tried to escape were killed. Witnesses interviewed by HRW attributed the killings to M23 fighters. The Kasika neighborhood was targeted due to reports of Congolese army activity in the area.
“The M23’s brutal control over Goma has created a climate of fear among those perceived to be allied to the Congolese government,” said Clémentine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at HRW. “The mass killings don’t seem to be actions by rogue fighters, but rather the M23 leadership’s efforts to solidify their control by whatever means necessary.”
The death toll in Goma could be far higher, with medical workers reporting over 50 bodies retrieved from Kasika during the two-day period. This incident is part of the broader atrocities committed during M23’s offensive, which began in January and has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa responded to the allegations, stating, “HRW gives us an opportunity to mirror ourselves. We respect this organization despite its past accusations which proved to be false.” He added that the group would investigate the claims and release its findings. Other human rights groups have also flagged severe abuses since M23 captured significant swaths of territory.
Amnesty International reported similar claims in May, accusing M23 rebels of killing, torturing, and forcibly disappearing civilian detainees in Goma and Bukavu. These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating alleged crimes against civilians in North Kivu.