UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes

Both the military and the M23 militia have committed serious abuses in eastern Congo-Kinshasa, according to UN investigators. It may be a matter of war crimes and crimes against humanity, they warn.

» Published: September 05 2025 at 12:35

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes
Photo: Jerome Delay/AP/TT

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Among other things, it is about summary executions, torture and sexual violence. Both sides have also failed to protect civilians.

"Both the Congolese and Rwandan governments must take urgent measures to guarantee respect for international law with regard to their national forces and affiliated groups, and stop supporting the latter," the report states.

Eastern Congo-Kinshasa, on the border with Rwanda, has suffered from extreme violence for the past three decades. The militia group M23, which has the support of Rwanda, has taken control of parts of the area, leading to a humanitarian crisis. New unrest broke out this year when M23 took the cities of Goma and Bukavu.

Although the governments of Congo-Kinshasa and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June and Congo-Kinshasa and M23 signed an agreement in July, the violence has continued in the country.

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TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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