The UN Human Rights Office said on Friday that armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, including M23 rebels and government forces, committed serious violations that may amount to war crimes, citing killings, rapes and torture.
The UN Human Rights Office has accused multiple parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ongoing conflict of committing atrocities that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to its Fact-Finding Mission, the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), and affiliated militias such as the Wazalendo have carried out widespread violations of international humanitarian law since fighting escalated in late 2023.
Abuses detailed
The report cites summary executions, enforced disappearances, and systematic sexual violence as key violations. It states that M23 fighters used rape, including gang rape, to punish and degrade victims, mainly women.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the findings as “horrific” and urged accountability.
M23 seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, in January and advanced further across North and South Kivu. Thousands have been killed this year, and hundreds of thousands displaced, in a region that is rich in minerals such as tin, gold and coltan.
Rwanda’s role
The UN report said M23 received training and operational support from Rwanda’s Defence Forces, alleging covert RDF involvement. Kigali has denied backing M23, insisting its troops only defend against Congolese forces and Hutu militias tied to the 1994 genocide.
M23 itself has also rejected accusations of atrocities.
Government abuses
The UN said Congo’s army and pro-government militias were also implicated in grave abuses, including killings, looting and sexual violence against civilians.
Stalled peace efforts
Mediation by Qatar led to a declaration of principles signed in July, with both sides pledging to pursue peace talks in August. However, the deadline passed without progress, leaving the conflict unresolved.
Turkmenistan Airlines has increased flights to key international destinations, including Seoul, Milan, Kazan and Istanbul, as the Central Asian cou...
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 October 2026, exploring five election stories shaping world politics, from leadership struggles in Israel ...
A knife-wielding attacker was shot dead by a police officer outside Israel’s embassy in Belgrade after wounding the officer, prompting Serbia...
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday, but they continue strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Israel's election appeared headed for a prolonged political standoff on Tuesday after exit polls suggested neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, had secured a clear path to a parliamentary majority.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat after a student-led protest movement took the majority of seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
Nearly two years after the 20 October 2024 parliamentary elections, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remains without a cabinet. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 of 100 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23, leaving neither able to govern alone.
Turkmenistan Airlines has increased flights to key international destinations, including Seoul, Milan, Kazan and Istanbul, as the Central Asian country moves to meet rising travel demand and strengthen its global aviation links.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 October 2026, exploring five election stories shaping world politics, from leadership struggles in Israel and mounting economic pressures to election security concerns in the U.S. and political fallout in Brazil.
A knife-wielding attacker was shot dead by a police officer outside Israel’s embassy in Belgrade after wounding the officer, prompting Serbian authorities to raise the country’s security alert to its highest level.
The cost of the U.S. war in Iran has climbed above $47 billion, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters, as spending on munitions, equipment losses and military operations continues to rise.
A week before the U.S. midterm elections, the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) electronic filing system was targeted by hackers, according to an email seen by Reuters, as “super PAC” committees and dark money groups are spending record sums in the final days of campaigning.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment