Human Rights Watch reported on Thursday that M23 rebels and the Rwandan army committed killings, rapes and abductions during a roughly month-long occupation of the city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2025 and early 2026.
The group said the M23 briefly seized Uvira in December and then withdrew weeks later after pressure from the United States. In its account of the takeover and occupation, Human Rights Watch documented a series of serious violations attributed to the rebels.
Documented abuses
The report lists 53 summary executions, eight rapes and 12 enforced disappearances carried out by the rebels during the period in question. Witnesses described fighters shooting at civilians attempting to flee and conducting door-to-door actions that targeted men and boys accused of ties to government-backed local militias.
Responses and denials
Human Rights Watch said Rwanda's government and a spokesperson for M23 did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The report notes that both Rwanda and the rebel movement have previously denied allegations of human rights abuses and have accused the Congolese army and allied militias of targeting members of the Tutsi community.
International reaction and ongoing conflict
The report comes amid continued fighting in eastern Congo despite mediation efforts by several international actors, including the United States. Washington imposed sanctions in March on the Rwandan Defence Force and senior army officials over alleged support for M23 - an allegation Rwanda denies.
Human Rights Watch also reported that, late last week, the rebels withdrew from several positions in South Kivu province, where Uvira is located, retreating approximately 30 kilometres to the north.
The findings in the Human Rights Watch report depict a concentrated period of violence affecting civilians in and around Uvira and underline persistent instability in eastern Congo despite diplomatic and sanction-related pressure on parties accused of supporting the rebel movement.