Violence in Uvira: Rebels and Rwandan Forces Accused of Crimes

In a recent investigation, a rights group has alleged that both the M23 rebel faction and soldiers from Rwanda were involved in severe human rights violations during a brief occupation of Uvira, a city in eastern Congo. The report claims that over the course of a month from late 2025 to early 2026, the groups carried out killings, rapes and forced disappearances. The rebels seized Uvira in December but pulled back after a few weeks when pressure from the United States intensified. During that period, they reportedly executed 53 people without trial and raped eight women. Twelve others vanished under suspicious circumstances. Witnesses say the fighters fired at people leaving the city and then went door‑to‑door, shooting men and boys who were suspected of supporting government‑backed militias.Both Rwanda’s officials and a rebel spokesperson have so far declined to comment, each side denying earlier accusations of abuse. They also blame the Congolese army and allied militias for targeting Tutsi community members. International mediation has struggled to halt the fighting in eastern Congo, with several countries stepping in. In March, Washington imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and senior army officers over alleged ties to M23, an action Rwanda denies. The rebels have recently abandoned several positions in South Kivu, retreating about 30 kilometres north of Uvira. The situation remains fluid and the region’s security fragile.