A recent investigation has unveiled a harrowing account of atrocities committed in the lakeside city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. During its weeks-long occupation by the M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwandan soldiers, the city experienced summary executions, widespread rape, and other grave human rights abuses. The probe documented the deaths of 53 civilians, including 46 men, one woman, and six children, who were reportedly executed during door-to-door raids after the rebels seized control in December.

Eyewitnesses recounted horrific scenes, with one resident describing how M23 fighters “shot my neighbour first in the head.” Another survivor reported witnessing the killing of four family members before fleeing to Lake Tanganyika. The investigation also documented at least eight cases of rape, with victims detailing brutal assaults, some allegedly involving uniformed Rwandan soldiers. One woman stated that her husband was shot dead when he tried to intervene during her assault. These accounts underscore the profound trauma inflicted upon the community. While Rwanda has consistently denied any involvement with the M23 or the deployment of its troops in eastern DR Congo, numerous interviewees alleged witnessing atrocities carried out by both M23 fighters and Rwandan military personnel.

The M23’s capture of Uvira, a strategic city on Lake Tanganyika and a gateway to Burundi, occurred just days after a peace deal was brokered by then-US President Donald Trump between DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Despite this diplomatic effort, the conflict intensified. Western powers, including the US and European nations, have accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel offensive, with international experts previously indicating Rwanda’s “de facto control” over M23 operations, including training and providing advanced weaponry. The M23 eventually withdrew from Uvira in January following intense diplomatic pressure. Investigators also visited three alleged mass graves within the city, including one at a former UN peacekeeping site. Disturbingly, children were also targeted, with one 12-year-old boy reportedly shot by M23 fighters and then stabbed with a bayonet to confirm his death, yet he survived.

These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence detailing the severe violence against civilians in eastern DR Congo. Recent reports highlight over 35,000 cases of sexual violence against children in the region within a nine-month period, predominantly in North and South Kivu provinces, where the M23 maintains significant control. The persistent instability has led to the displacement of nearly two million people in South Kivu alone, fleeing their homes in search of safety. The documented abuses, which also include abductions, enforced disappearances, and forced recruitment, are believed to constitute war crimes, necessitating accountability for those responsible.