Human Rights Watch documents war crimes by Rwanda‑backed M23 in DRC camps

Human Rights Watch released a report on 10 June accusing the Rwandan army and the M23 rebel group of war crimes in two camps—Rumangabo and Tshanzu—in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The report says that after the capture of Goma on 30 January 2025, about 1,700 soldiers, police, officials and civilians were forced onto trucks and taken north to Rutshuru, where systematic forced recruitment took place. Hundreds of detainees died in 2025, with mass graves identified via satellite imagery.

Witnesses described severe mistreatment: detainees were beaten, deprived of food, water and medical care, and subjected to summary executions. One former detainee recalled, “If we were caught drinking from puddles, the guards beat us severely,” and another said, “I was just a student… they made me bury bodies seven times.” Children as young as 12 were reportedly recruited, trained and forced to work as guards. HRW also alleges the presence of Rwandan soldiers in the camps, arguing that their involvement could meet the legal definition of a belligerent occupation. The organization urges Kinshasa to stop supporting armed groups and calls for independent investigations. Neither Kigali nor M23 responded to the allegations.