Kinshasa, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government has accused the M23 rebel group of responsibility for the deaths of more than 300 people in areas under its control during June and July, alleging summary executions, massacres and bombings.
In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Communication and Media said the reported killings were part of serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations against civilians in territories controlled by the AFC/M23.
The government also reported hundreds of cases of rape, more than 300 cases of torture, including involving students, as well as hundreds of kidnappings and instances of forced recruitment. It further accused the group of imposing what it described as illegal levies on the education and health sectors, looting property and setting homes on fire.
Kinshasa said the alleged violations undermined the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and ran counter to ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, including the Doha peace process.
The accusations came days after the DRC government and M23 announced progress in their peace negotiations. In a joint statement issued Saturday, the two sides said they had agreed on a roadmap establishing a sequence and timeline for negotiations under the Doha framework agreement.
They also agreed to create a mechanism to monitor progress and address difficulties in implementing their commitments, while welcoming progress towards operationalising a joint ceasefire verification mechanism. A ceasefire monitoring mission was deployed in eastern DRC on Monday amid continuing tensions.
The M23, which is backed by Rwanda according to international assessments, has intensified its military campaign in eastern DRC since January 2025, capturing large areas of North Kivu and South Kivu.
Under Qatar’s mediation, the DRC government and M23 have pursued negotiations aimed at securing a comprehensive peace settlement. Despite diplomatic progress, fighting and allegations of abuses have continued.
The latest allegations come amid wider international concerns over abuses in M23-controlled areas. Human Rights Watch has separately documented killings, torture, arbitrary detention and forced recruitment linked to M23 and Rwandan forces, though its findings cover an earlier period.
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