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M23 rebels accused of war crimes and mineral trafficking in DRC
Amnesty International has released a report alleging that the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is committing human rights abuses that may constitute war crimes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The organization documented severe violations at artisanal mining sites, including summary executions, torture, forced labor, and arbitrary detention.
Specifically, the report details the deaths of 18 miners, noting that 10 were beaten to death and two were shot. M23 fighters reportedly forced miners to work underground for over a week at a time in coltan mines near Rubaya and gold mines in Lomera. The group also allegedly used shipping containers as makeshift detention cells where prisoners were tortured.
Furthermore, Amnesty International accuses the M23 of facilitating the illegal trafficking of gold and coltan into Rwanda, claiming that Rwandan authorities assist in this exploitation of the DRC's mineral wealth. UN experts have previously suggested that the M23 receives support from approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers. Neither the M23 nor the Rwandan government responded to requests for comment.
Entities
Agnès Callamard · Amnesty International · Democratic Republic of the Congo · M23 · Rwanda
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers support the M23 rebel group. www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at · www.watson.ch
- [● 11 SOURCES] M23 fighters are smuggling gold and coltan from the DRC to Rwanda with the help of Rwandan authorities. jeunes.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.nl · www.cash.ch · elnuevodiario.com.do · +6 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] M23 fighters have used torture, forced labor, and arbitrary detention against artisanal miners. jeunes.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.nl · www.cash.ch · elnuevodiario.com.do · +6 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The report documents the summary execution of 18 miners. www.cash.ch · elnuevodiario.com.do · www.finanzen.at · www.perthnow.com.au · fr.news.yahoo.com · +2 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The M23 rebel group is committing human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo that may constitute war crimes. jeunes.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.be · www.amnesty.nl · www.cash.ch · elnuevodiario.com.do · +6 more