
M23 rebels near the Goma-Gisenyi border crossing amid renewed tensions in eastern DRC. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
The government of Rwanda has strongly rejected allegations by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) that it provided military backing to the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), enabling the massacre of civilians in Rutshuru Territory.
The allegations, released in separate reports this week, accused M23 fighters of killing at least 140 civilians — mainly Hutu villagers — in July 2025, with credible estimates suggesting the total number of victims could exceed 300. According to HRW, the killings took place across 14 villages near Virunga National Park between July 10 and 30.
But Kigali has categorically dismissed the reports as “unverified, unfounded, and politically motivated.” In a statement issued on Friday, August 22, Rwanda said the accusations lacked credible investigation and were aimed at advancing a predetermined narrative.
“The sensational accusations of Human Rights Watch, just like those of UNJHRO and OHCHR, have no basis in fact and lack any evidence. Human Rights Watch itself admits that it did not independently verify the alleged killings,” Rwanda’s government said.
Questioning the timing of the reports
Rwanda also questioned why the allegations were made public just weeks after the June 27 Peace Agreement, signed in Washington, which outlined steps toward neutralising the DRC-backed Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Kigali argues that the FDLR — a militia made up of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi — remains a destabilising force in eastern DRC.
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Kigali suggested the timing was deliberate, meant to undermine fragile peace processes, including the Washington Agreement and the Doha talks, in which Rwanda has pledged continued engagement.
“Human Rights Watch has a long history of implausible claims against Rwanda, often at moments of political significance, currently when parties to the conflict in the DRC are preparing to go back to negotiations,” the government statement added.
M23 and the DRC conflict
The March 23 Movement (M23) resurfaced in late 2021 after years of dormancy and has since captured significant territory in North Kivu Province, displacing hundreds of thousands. While Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels with troops, weapons, and logistics, Kigali has consistently denied any involvement, instead blaming the DRC government for tolerating the FDLR.
The United Nations and Western governments have previously echoed concerns about Rwanda’s alleged role in the conflict. A leaked UN expert panel report in 2022 claimed that Rwandan forces had intervened directly in support of M23, though Kigali dismissed those findings as biased and politically manipulated.

Human cost and regional impact
The violence in eastern DRC has created one of Africa’s most dire humanitarian crises. According to the UN, more than 7 million people are internally displaced across the country, with North Kivu bearing the heaviest burden. The alleged July killings in Rutshuru, if verified, would represent one of the deadliest attacks linked to M23 since its resurgence.
Human rights groups argue that the cycle of accusations and denials between Kigali and Kinshasa leaves civilians trapped in violence. “Whether or not Rwanda is directly involved, the fact remains that communities in North Kivu continue to suffer mass killings, forced displacement, and destruction,” said a regional analyst based in Nairobi.
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Rwanda insists on independent investigation
While flatly rejecting the HRW report, Rwanda says it is not opposed to scrutiny — but insists that only an impartial, independent investigation could establish the truth. Kigali also reiterated its commitment to a “peaceful, secure, and prosperous Great Lakes region.”
Despite denials, tensions between Rwanda and the DRC remain high. With peace talks fragile and trust between the two neighbours eroded, the crisis in eastern Congo continues to threaten regional stability, drawing in actors from the African Union, the East African Community, and international partners.
For now, Kigali remains firm that it will not take responsibility for atrocities it insists were carried out without its involvement. But for the communities of Rutshuru, the urgent demand is less about politics and more about justice, protection, and peace.