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Dakar, May 14, 2026
M23 rebels and the Rwandan army carried out killings, rapes, and abductions during their month-long occupation of the eastern Congolese city of Uvira in late 2025 and early 2026, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a new report.
The rebels seized Uvira in December 2025 before withdrawing several weeks later under pressure from the United States. According to HRW, fighters committed at least 53 summary executions, 8 rapes, and 12 enforced disappearances during the takeover and occupation of the city.
The rights group reported that M23 fighters shot at civilians attempting to flee and conducted door-to-door searches, targeting men and boys suspected of links to government-backed local militias.
Rwanda’s government and M23 spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both have previously denied allegations of human rights abuses and accused Congolese forces and allied militias of targeting the Tutsi community.
The violence in Uvira is part of ongoing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, despite international mediation efforts. In March 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and senior officials over alleged support for M23, allegations Rwanda denies.
Last week, M23 rebels withdrew from several positions in South Kivu province, where Uvira is located, pulling back around 30 kilometres further north.
