In the heart of Africa’s Great Lakes region, a humanitarian crisis has once again erupted, drawing international scrutiny and deepening fears for civilians trapped in the crossfire. The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, stands accused of killing more than 140 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during July 2025, according to a harrowing report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on August 21. The violence, which unfolded between July 10 and July 30 in at least 14 villages and farming areas near Virunga National Park in Rutshuru territory, marks one of the most brutal episodes since M23’s resurgence in late 2021.
The scale of the atrocities, as documented by HRW and echoed by the United Nations, is staggering. While the initial death toll cited by HRW stands at over 140, credible reports indicate that the number of people killed in Rutshuru territory since July may exceed 300. The UN human rights office, for its part, reported that M23 fighters killed at least 319 civilians in attacks on four villages in North Kivu during July. These numbers, chilling as they are, may only hint at the full extent of the violence, as many areas remain inaccessible to investigators.
Victims included men, women, and children—farmers and residents who were killed not only in their homes and fields but also along the banks of the Rutshuru River. The brutality of the attacks has left survivors traumatized and communities shattered. HRW’s report, drawing on interviews with 25 witnesses, medical staff, UN personnel, and other sources, paints a grim picture of what unfolded. Most of the victims were ethnic Hutu, with some ethnic Nande, highlighting the complex ethnic dynamics that have long plagued the region.
One survivor, a woman who witnessed her husband being killed with a machete by M23 fighters, recounted a scene of terror and despair. Forced to march all day with about 70 women and children, she was eventually ordered to sit on the edge of a riverbank. “They told us to sit on the edge of the riverbank, and then they started shooting at us,” she told Human Rights Watch. Miraculously, she survived after falling into the river without being shot. Another man described watching helplessly as M23 rebels killed his wife and four children, aged nine months to 10 years, after he failed to make it back in time to save them.
The violence comes despite concerted peace efforts supported by the United States and Qatar. On June 27, 2025, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington, raising hopes that the cycle of bloodshed might finally be broken. The accord was hailed as a breakthrough, with both sides pledging to respect each other’s sovereignty and work toward a durable peace. Yet, just weeks after the agreement, the killings in Rutshuru have cast a long shadow over its sincerity and effectiveness.
According to a statement from Congo’s foreign affairs ministry, the atrocities “cast a shadow over the sincerity and commitment of stakeholders to the Washington peace agreement and the ongoing Doha talks.” The ministry’s words reflect a growing skepticism among Congolese officials and citizens alike, who have seen countless peace deals falter amid persistent violence.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains volatile. On August 19, the Congolese army accused M23 of repeated assaults on its positions in North and South Kivu provinces, underscoring the group’s continued military ambitions. The rebel group now controls significant swaths of territory, including the strategic provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, both seized earlier in 2025. This expansion has allowed M23 to entrench its power and limit access for humanitarian agencies and investigators.
Despite mounting evidence and survivor testimony, M23 has consistently denied any role in the killings. Rebel official Benjamin Mbonimpa took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend the group’s actions, stating that territories overrun by M23 were “well administered” and that the group was being “gratuitously blamed for the massacres.” This denial has done little to convince the international community, especially as witness accounts and forensic evidence continue to surface.
Human Rights Watch has called on the UN Security Council, the European Union, and governments worldwide to respond with urgency. The organization urged the expansion of sanctions, the pressing of arrests and prosecutions, and demanded that Rwanda allow UN and independent forensic experts into areas under M23 control. The call for accountability is echoed by many in the region, who fear that impunity will only fuel further violence.
The roots of the conflict run deep. The M23, or March 23 Movement, emerged in 2012, claiming to defend the rights of ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo. After a brief period of dormancy, the group resurged in late 2021, quickly regaining strength and territory. Its alleged backing by Rwanda has long been a point of contention, with Kinshasa and international observers accusing Kigali of supporting the rebels as a means of exerting influence in the mineral-rich region. Rwanda, for its part, denies direct involvement, though the evidence presented by HRW and the UN has kept suspicions alive.
The violence has taken a devastating toll on civilians. Since the start of 2025, thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands more displaced, many forced to flee their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs. The humanitarian situation is dire, with overcrowded camps, limited access to food and medical care, and ongoing security threats.
Peace efforts, while persistent, have so far yielded little tangible progress. The Washington agreement and subsequent Doha talks were intended to pave the way for a ceasefire and the eventual disarmament of armed groups. Yet, as the latest massacres demonstrate, words on paper have yet to translate into safety or justice for those most affected.
The international community faces a difficult challenge. Calls for sanctions and accountability are important, but without access to rebel-held areas and cooperation from regional governments, progress remains slow. HRW’s demand for Rwanda to allow independent forensic experts into M23-controlled territories is a crucial step, but one that will require political will and sustained pressure.
For now, the people of eastern Congo remain caught in a cycle of violence and uncertainty. As one survivor told Human Rights Watch, “We have nowhere left to run.” Their stories—of loss, resilience, and hope—deserve not only to be heard but acted upon.
As the world watches, the question remains: will the latest revelations spur meaningful action, or will the cycle of tragedy continue unabated?
