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Human rights

Warring Factions in Eastern DRC Commit Horrific Abuses, Including Gang Rapes and Summary Executions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Amnesty International has documented horrific human rights abuses by warring factions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including gang rapes, summary executions, and abductions. The abuses have been committed by both the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and the Wazalendo, a loose coalition of armed groups backed by the Congolese army. The victims include civilians, civil society members, journalists, and lawyers, with the majority being women and girls.

Key Takeaways:

  • M23 fighters have summarily killed Congolese civilians, attacked hospitals, abducted patients, and tortured and forcibly disappeared civil society members.
  • Wazalendo fighters have gang-raped women and girls, including a 14-year-old girl who was gang-raped by multiple fighters in Rutshuru.
  • Amnesty International interviewed over 53 victims and witnesses, including survivors of gang rape, victims of abuse, and relatives of those unlawfully killed or detained.
  • M23 fighters have committed human rights abuses against civil society actors, journalists, lawyers, and others, including torture, forced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and threats.
  • The M23 have attacked hospitals in Goma six times during the same period, abducting or detaining patients and caregivers.
  • Amnesty International calls on Qatar to press M23 to stop abducting and forcibly disappearing individuals, and for the United States to push the Congolese government to implement a vetting mechanism to identify and remove armed group members and security force officials implicated in serious human rights abuses or violations.

Statistics:

  • 53 victims and witnesses were interviewed by Amnesty International.
  • 14 survivors of sexual violence reported being gang-raped by M23 fighters.
  • 5 survivors reported being gang-raped by Wazalendo fighters.
  • 121 human rights abuses were documented by Amnesty International.
  • 12 civil society actors, human rights defenders, and journalists reported being tortured, forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, or threatened by M23 fighters.
  • 6 hospitals in Goma were attacked by M23 fighters.
  • 19 July 2025: DRC and M23 representatives signed a "declaration of principles" in Doha, Qatar, pledging to work toward a final peace agreement.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International's briefing "DRC: 'They said we would die': M23 and Wazalendo abuses in eastern Congo"
  • M2 PressWIRE-August 20, 2025-: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Warring factions in eastern DRC commit horrific abuses including gang rapes, summary executions and abductions
  • M2 COMMUNICATIONS RDATE:20082025

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