Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of executing at least 21 civilians over a two-day period in February in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The human rights group detailed the killings in a report released Tuesday, highlighting the atrocities committed in Goma’s Kasika neighborhood on February 22 and 23.
The report offers a grim snapshot of the escalating violence in the region, where M23 rebels have mounted a large-scale offensive since January, seizing Goma and Bukavu—two of eastern Congo’s largest cities. The conflict has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Among the victims were six men and one woman who were shot in the head near the Katindo military camp on February 22. HRW cited eyewitness testimony linking the executions directly to M23 fighters. In a separate incident nearby, more bodies were found dumped at a construction site, including a 15-year-old boy who had been abducted from his home.
According to HRW, the Kasika area was deliberately targeted because it previously hosted Congolese army barracks. On February 23, M23 fighters allegedly rounded up around 20 young men at a local sports field, accusing them of being soldiers. Three men who attempted to flee were reportedly shot on the spot.
HRW has called for those responsible—both commanders and combatants—to be held criminally accountable for the violence.
Responding to the allegations, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa stated the group would investigate and publish its findings, saying, “HRW gives us an opportunity to mirror ourselves. We respect this organization despite its past accusations which proved to be false.”
HRW believes the actual death toll is likely higher, citing medical workers who reported recovering over 50 bodies from the area during the two-day period.
The violence adds to a long list of atrocities reported by international organizations in eastern Congo. In March, Amnesty International stated that M23 fighters had raided hospitals in Goma, abducting 130 people including patients and healthcare workers. Many were tortured, and some remain missing.
UNICEF also reported a five-fold increase in rape cases across 42 health centers in the region during February, calling it the worst sexual violence surge in years. Nearly a third of the victims were children, with one mother reporting that all six of her daughters—some as young as 12—were raped by armed men searching for food.
The ongoing conflict is deeply rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the fight over Congo’s vast mineral wealth. While the United Nations accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, Kigali maintains that its military actions are in self-defense against Congolese forces and their allied militias.
