The M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been accused of committing grave human rights abuses, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances of civilians held in detention, according to a new report released by Amnesty International on Tuesday.
Based on interviews with 18 former detainees held between February and April in areas controlled by M23, Amnesty said at least nine reported being tortured while in captivity. Detainees were allegedly kept in inhumane conditions and punished for suspected affiliations with the Congolese government, civil society, or other armed groups.
“M23’s claims of restoring order in eastern DRC are contradicted by their brutal treatment of detainees,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s regional director for East and Southern Africa. “They silence dissent through fear and violence.”
The rights watchdog urged the group to release all arbitrarily detained civilians and called on regional actors to pressure Rwanda—long accused of backing M23—to withdraw support for the group.
In response, Faustin Kashale of the Manzi Foundation, a local NGO, questioned the credibility of the findings, warning that some reports may be “unfounded” and intended to sway public opinion.
However, Amnesty maintained that independent access to M23 detention sites is urgently needed, and that detainees must be granted legal representation and contact with their families.
Eight of the interviewees said they witnessed fellow detainees die—possibly from torture or the harsh conditions. Victims were reportedly accused of crimes such as collaborating with the national army, criticizing the group, or hiding weapons.
The accusations come amid ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire. Last month, M23 agreed to peace talks with the Congolese government, mediated by Qatar in Doha. The conflict has displaced around one million people since January, according to the United Nations.