Source: Amnesty International –
Both the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and the Wazalendo, a loose coalition of armed groups backed by the Congolese army, have gang raped women and committed widespread human rights abuses against civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that violate international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes, Amnesty International said in a new briefing.
The brutality of the warring parties knows no bounds; these atrocities are intended to punish, intimidate and humiliate civilians, as each side attempts to assert control.
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
The briefing, “DRC: ‘They said we would die’: M23 and Wazalendo abuses in eastern Congo”, documents how M23 fighters have summarily killed Congolese civilians, attacked hospitals, abducted patients, and tortured and forcibly disappeared civil society members. It also details the increasing militarization in eastern DRC, as M23 has taken control of vast swathes of territory in the region and the Wazalendo have received large amounts of ammunition and weapons supplied by the Congolese army (FARDC).
“The brutality of the warring parties knows no bounds; these atrocities are intended to punish, intimidate and humiliate civilians, as each side attempts to assert control,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
“Rwanda and the DRC cannot continue shunning responsibility; they must hold all perpetrators accountable,” said Tigere Chagutah. “It’s time for DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi to honour his commitment to justice and accountability and ensure that Wazalendo fighters who committed crimes are brought to justice and others are demobilized and reintegrated into civilian life. As a party to the conflict, Rwanda must ensure that all Rwandan Defence Forces in the DRC comply with international humanitarian law.”
Amnesty International interviewed more than 53 victims and witnesses, including survivors of gang rape, victims of abuse, relatives of those unlawfully killed, detained or forcibly disappeared, medical professionals, civil society members, human rights defenders, lawyers, humanitarian actors, and journalists. The organization also reviewed M23 official statements, audio-visual evidence and reports by local and international media and human rights organizations.
On 18 July, Amnesty International requested information from the FARDC about the conduct of its soldiers, as well as information from representatives of M23 in relation to specific allegations of human rights violations and abuses. At the time of publication, the organization had not received responses from them.