Violence in Uvira: Rebels and Rwandan Forces Accused of Crimes

A rights organization has alleged that the M23 rebel faction and Rwandan soldiers committed severe human rights abuses during a brief occupation of Uvira, a city in eastern Congo. The investigation claims that over a month—from late 2025 to early 2026—the groups carried out killings, rapes, and forced disappearances.

• December 2025: M23 rebels seized Uvira.
• Pressure from the United States forced a withdrawal after a few weeks.

During that period, reports state:

• 53 people executed without trial.
• Eight women raped.
• Twelve individuals vanished under suspicious circumstances.

Witnesses describe:

• Fighters firing at civilians leaving the city.
• Door‑to‑door shootings of men and boys suspected of supporting government‑backed militias.

Both Rwanda’s officials and a rebel spokesperson have declined to comment, each side denying abuse accusations. They also blame the Congolese army and allied militias for targeting Tutsi community members.

International mediation struggles to halt fighting in eastern Congo, with several countries involved. In March, Washington imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and senior army officers over alleged ties to M23—a move Rwanda denies.

The rebels have recently abandoned several positions in South Kivu, retreating about 30 km north of Uvira. The situation remains fluid and the region’s security fragile.