Africa14 May, 20262 min read
M23 Rebels And Rwandan Forces Summarily Kill Civilians During Uvira Occupation, Human Rights Watch Says
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Mass killings, rapes, and abductions by M23 and RDF in Uvira. Over 50 civilians were executed during door-to-door searches.
Uvira occupation atrocities
Human Rights Watch says the M23 armed group and Rwandan military forces carried out an abusive month-long occupation of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, beginning in December 2025 and ending with their withdrawal on January 17, 2026. The report says the forces shot fleeing civilians, summarily executed more than 50 people during door-to-door searches, raped at least 8 women, and forcibly disappeared at least 12 people. Human Rights Watch’s findings are based on a 23-page report released in May 2026 and on over 120 interviews conducted in March and April 2026.
Human Rights Watch executive director Philippe Bolopion said, "After taking control of Uvira, M23 fighters and Rwandan forces went door-to-door to summarily kill men and boys and committed rape and abductions," tying the abuses to the occupation period. The BBC described the violence as including evidence of the execution of 53 civilians during door-to-door raids, with HRW saying it found 46 men, one woman and six children killed after the rebels captured Uvira in December.
Testimony and denials
In the BBC’s account of HRW interviews, one resident told investigators, "They [M23 fighters] shot my neighbour first in the head," while another said he saw four members of his family killed. The BBC also reported that the M23 and Rwandan government have not yet responded to a BBC request for comment, and it noted Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the M23 or deploying its own soldiers in eastern DR Congo. Human Rights Watch told allAfrica that criminal investigations are needed, including by the International Criminal Court, to ensure the crimes do not go unpunished.
Philippe Bolopion said HRW "may have only scratched the surface" and called for investigations to prevent impunity. The BBC further quoted a rape survivor saying, "If you don't do what I tell you, I will kill you," describing threats tied to the sexual violence documented by HRW.
Sanctions, investigations, risk
The HRW report described the occupation as beginning on December 10, 2025, "mere days after the signing of the United States-brokered Washington Accords," and it said the withdrawal came on January 17, 2026. RFI reported that HRW called on the United States and the European Union to adopt new targeted sanctions, and it said the NGO urged regional governments to facilitate access to the United Nations’ new Commission of Inquiry into eastern DRC. RFI also quoted HRW’s senior researcher in Africa division, Clémentine de Montjoye, saying, "Today, it is difficult to know the exact number of people killed," as residents described executions and shelling hitting inhabited neighborhoods.
Actualite.cd said HRW insisted on opening areas controlled by AFC/M23-RDF to investigations and independent observers, and it reported that HRW recommended the immediate and safe release of civilians and other people detained wrongly. Actualite.cd added that under diplomatic pressure, the M23 announced on January 17, 2026, a unilateral withdrawal from the city, and it said the Congolese army (FARDC), backed by local groups known as Wazalendo, retook Uvira on January 20, 2026, beginning the process of restoring state authority.