Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of executing at least 21 civilians during a two-day period of intense violence in February in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The killings occurred in the city of Goma, according to a report released by the rights group on Tuesday.
The report focuses on brutal incidents that took place on February 22 and 23 in the Kasika neighborhood of Goma, shedding light on the civilian toll in the latest chapter of a conflict that has plagued the region for decades.
A harrowing account describes six men and one woman being shot in the head near the Katindo military camp on February 22. Human Rights Watch attributed the killings to M23 fighters, citing eyewitness testimony. In a separate episode that same day, the group reportedly killed several more individuals, disposing of their bodies at a nearby construction site, located less than 100 meters from the camp. Among the victims was a 15-year-old boy who had been abducted from his home. His body was later discovered at the site, according to statements from both a relative and a neighbor.
The violence extended into the following day. On February 23, M23 fighters allegedly rounded up approximately 20 young men at a sports field in the area. According to a witness, the rebels accused them of being affiliated with the Congolese army. When three of the detainees attempted to flee, they were shot dead.
HRW called for justice and accountability in its report, urging that those who ordered or carried out the atrocities be prosecuted. “Commanders and combatants who directly ordered or carried out abuses should be held criminally accountable,” the organization stated.
Goma’s Kasika neighborhood was reportedly targeted due to its historical connection to the Congolese military, having once hosted an army barracks.
Although M23 officials said they would investigate the allegations and share their findings, they pushed back on previous accusations. “HRW gives us an opportunity to mirror ourselves. We respect this organisation despite its past accusations which proved to be false,” said Bertrand Bisimwa, a senior M23 leader, in a statement to Reuters.
The real toll may be even higher than reported. Medical personnel working in the area told HRW that more than 50 bodies were collected in Kasika alone during the two-day wave of violence.
The violence comes amid a broader offensive launched by the M23 in January, during which the rebel group seized control of Goma and Bukavu—the two largest cities in eastern Congo. The offensive has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Photos from the conflict show armed M23 members patrolling Goma and Bukavu, as rebel leader Corneille Nangaa addressed supporters at a rally in Bukavu on February 27, 2025.
Other international organizations have also reported atrocities. In March, Amnesty International accused M23 fighters of storming medical facilities in Goma, abducting 130 individuals, including hospital staff and injured Congolese soldiers. Many of the abductees were tortured, and a number remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has reported a dramatic rise in sexual violence. In February alone, rape cases treated across 42 health centers in eastern Congo increased fivefold. UNICEF described this as the worst surge of sexual violence seen in years, noting that nearly one-third of victims were children. In one devastating incident, a woman reported that her six daughters—some as young as 12—were raped by armed men searching for food.
The eastern Congo conflict is deeply intertwined with the legacy of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the ongoing battle for control over the region’s vast mineral wealth. Although the United Nations and other observers have accused Rwanda of backing M23 militarily, the Rwandan government continues to deny involvement, asserting instead that its actions are defensive measures against Congolese forces and their allied militias.
