Amnesty International has accused the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of committing serious human rights violations that may amount to war crimes.
In a report released Tuesday, the rights group alleged that the Rwanda-backed rebels were responsible for killings, torture, and the enforced disappearance of civilian detainees in areas under their control.
The report details the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Congo, where the decades-long conflict escalated earlier this year. The M23 rebels, who began a renewed offensive in January, have seized significant territory, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu in North Kivu province.
Amnesty International interviewed 18 former detainees from those cities, nine of whom reported being tortured by M23 fighters. Many said they were accused—without evidence, of supporting the Congolese army or government. Several were never informed of the reasons for their detention.
Eight interviewees said they witnessed fellow detainees die due to torture or inhumane conditions. Detainees were reportedly held in overcrowded, filthy cells lacking adequate food, clean water, sanitation, and medical care. Most were denied contact with their families or legal representation.
Amnesty has called on M23 to immediately release arbitrarily detained civilians and to uphold international humanitarian law by treating detainees humanely and granting them access to legal counsel and their relatives.
The ongoing conflict between M23 and the Congolese military has killed hundreds and displaced more than 1.7 million people in North Kivu. Despite a pledge by both sides to work toward a ceasefire last month, clashes continue.
M23 is one of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control of eastern DRC’s resource-rich territories, in a conflict that has fueled one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
