UN Exposes Atrocities in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: Crimes Against Humanity Unveiled.
- the Observatory for Human Rights
- Oct 7, 2025
- 3 min read
For the first time, the United Nations (UN) has reported on violations committed by armed forces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that could be classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes. In particular, the rebel group M23 and others have been accused of various atrocities, including mass murder and sexual violence.
According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), between 9 and 21 July 2025, M23 fighters and members of the Rwanda Defence Force killed at least 319 civilians in North Kivu Province. The UN report also highlights how the armed forces conducted systematic sexual violence, especially on women. More in depth, cases of gang rape, looting, and mass murders aimed at affecting the dignity of the victims were detected. Human Rights Watch was able to gather evidence of other killings that took place in areas controlled by M23. According to witnesses, armed groups discarded the bodies to eliminate evidence and blocked all roads to prevent people from leaving. “They were killed with machetes. Their throats were cut” stated a testifier.
The atrocities seem to be a component of a military operation towards rival armed groups, particularly the Hutu militia. Alongside the human rights violations, this raises concerns also on a possible ethnic cleansing in the area.
Since 1994, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the site of a deadly conflict. Because the country is rich in minerals, different armed groups have been fighting for control of mining sites. Although the State’s insecurity has been affecting civilians and neighboring countries since the beginning of the conflicts, M23’s advances in the east at the beginning of the year have further worsened the situation. Rwanda was also accused of backing the armed militias. Indeed, UN experts have reported numerous pieces of evidence that the Rwandan army was in “de facto control of M23 operations”.
It appears that the repercussions of the Rwandan genocide are the main reason of the support given to the armed groups. Because in the 1990s many Hutus fled to what is now the eastern part of the DRC, tensions increased with the already-present marginalized Tutsi population. The Rwandan government has accused the DRC authorities of engaging with the armed Hutu militia that is posing a threat for Rwanda's territory, while also denying all accusations of involvement with the M23. A deal was signed in June 2025 to mitigate tensions between the neighboring states. Despite this, human rights violations are still taking place.
According to the UN this is currently one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “I am appalled by the attacks on civilians by the M23 and other armed groups in eastern DRC amid continued fighting, despite the ceasefire that was recently signed in Doha,” stated Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who firmly condemned the latest massacres. The OHCHR demanded the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to further investigate these violations.
Official Sources:
BBC (2025) What’s the fighting in DR Congo all about?https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgly1yrd9j3o
Human Rights Watch (2025) DR Congo: M23 Mass Killings Near Virunga National Park Rwanda-Backed Armed Group Executes Over 140 Civilians in 14 Villages, Farming Areas https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/20/dr-congo-m23-mass-killings-near-virunga-national-park
Reuters (2025) M23, Congolese forces may have committed war crimes in Congo, UN rights report finds https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/m23-congolese-forces-may-have-committed-war-crimes-congo-un-rights-report-finds-2025-09-05/
UN News (2025) Armed militia killed hundreds in eastern DR Congo https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165586
written by Ludovica Muncibì
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