A new report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on August 20, 2025, has once again cast a shadow over the AFC/M23 rebel group, accusing its fighters of killing more than 140 civilians in July 2025, mostly in areas near Virunga National Park. According to Human Rights Watch, the killings targeted civilians, particularly Hutu farmers, and occurred during military operations aimed at pursuing government forces (FARDC), Wazalendo militias, and the FDLR.
In compiling the report, HRW relied on testimonies from civilians, medical personnel, soldiers, and UN peacekeepers (MONUSCO). The report indicates that the killings occurred in more than 14 villages and were conducted in a manner consistent with war crimes.
Clémentine de Montjoye, a senior researcher on the Great Lakes region for Human Rights Watch, also pointed to the involvement of Rwandan troops, alleging they were operating alongside M23 fighters. She warned that failure to prosecute those responsible could fuel further atrocities against civilians.
On the other hand, AFC/M23 has categorically denied the allegations, claiming that the report does not serve the cause of human rights but is rather a political tool used to support the Kinshasa government. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, dismissed the report as baseless and accused Human Rights Watch of collaborating with enemies of peace to discredit their efforts to “liberate the population.”
Nonetheless, Human Rights Watch is calling on the United Nations Security Council and major international powers to launch a thorough investigation and impose sanctions on commanders and military leaders implicated in the killings.
The release of this latest HRW report comes at a time when eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains plagued by conflict, armed group rivalries, and rising tensions between Kinshasa and Rwanda.
