M23 rebels executed civilians in Goma, including woman, child: HRW

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Human Rights Watch
3 Jun 2025 09:46

Human Rights Watch reports that Rwanda-backed M23 rebels executed at least 21 civilians in Goma in February as part of a wider pattern of violence in eastern Congo.

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M23 rebels escort government soldiers and police who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, on January 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels executed at least 21 civilians over two days in February in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, according to a report published Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report details incidents that occurred on February 22-23 in the Kasika neighborhood, offering a stark glimpse into the escalating violence that has defined the latest phase of the long-running conflict in eastern Congo.

According to HRW, the victims included six men and one woman who were shot in the head near the Katindo military camp in Goma on February 22. The organization cited a witness who identified M23 rebels as the perpetrators.

In another incident, less than 100 meters from the camp, bodies were found dumped at a construction site. Among the dead was a 15-year-old boy who had been taken from his home and later discovered lifeless at the site, according to a relative and a neighbor interviewed by HRW.

The Kasika area, previously home to Congolese army barracks, was specifically targeted by M23 fighters, the report said. Violence in the neighborhood continued the following day when M23 rebels reportedly rounded up around 20 young men at a nearby sports field, accusing them of being affiliated with the Congolese army. A witness said three of them were shot while attempting to flee.

Call for accountability

In its report, HRW called for accountability and action against the perpetrators of the crimes, saying, "Commanders and combatants who directly ordered or carried out abuses should be held criminally accountable."

Bertrand Bisimwa, a senior leader of M23, said the group would investigate the allegations and publish its findings. "HRW gives us an opportunity to mirror ourselves. We respect this organization despite its past accusations, which proved to be false," Bisimwa told Reuters.

Meanwhile, HRW warned that the actual death toll in Goma may be higher. Medical personnel reported recovering more than 50 bodies from the Kasika area over the two days.

M23 rebels launched their offensive in January, capturing large swathes of eastern Congo, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. The advance has left thousands dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Around 7,000 people have been killed in fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since January, when Rwanda-backed M23 rebels resumed their advances, according to the DRC’s prime minister.

Speaking at a high-level meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva… pic.twitter.com/wqxV9G6iKG
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 25, 2025

Amnesty warns of war crimes

Last week, Amnesty International released a report accusing M23 of committing war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and the taking of civilians as hostages.

“M23’s public statements about bringing order to eastern DRC mask their horrific treatment of detainees. They brutally punish those who they believe oppose them and intimidate others, so no one dares to challenge them,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

Between February and April 2025, Amnesty International interviewed 18 male civilians who had been held in M23 detention sites. Nine of them reported being tortured, while others described witnessing fellow detainees die as a result of beatings and deprivation.

Detainees reported being held in overcrowded, unsanitary cells without adequate food, water, or medical care. Many were denied contact with their families and held incommunicado.

One former detainee said he saw a man executed after being accused of hiding weapons. Others recounted how detainees were beaten with wooden rods, cables, and metal objects. At least two detainees described witnessing fellow prisoners being killed with hammers.

All 18 former detainees said they either experienced or witnessed torture. Beatings were routine, often carried out using electric cables, engine belts, and sticks. Victims were struck on their backs, legs, buttocks, and genitals, leaving lasting injuries. Amnesty International reviewed photos consistent with accounts of torture and confirmed several cases of hospitalization.