A new UN investigation has concluded that both the M23 armed group and the Congolese armed forces have committed grave violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since late 2024, including summary executions, enforced disappearances, and systematic sexual violence. The findings state these acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led militia, has seized swaths of territory in North and South Kivu with direct support from Rwanda’s military. UN investigators point to training, operational backing, and even the covert presence of Rwandan personnel within M23. Kigali has repeatedly denied involvement, but the report underlines what it calls “credible evidence” of Rwanda’s role.

The Congolese military and its allied militias, known as Wazalendo, are also implicated. The UN documented cases of deliberate civilian killings, looting, and sexual violence carried out by pro-government forces.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the findings as “horrific,” calling for accountability and justice for victims. He noted that the violations were widespread and systematic, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe.

Despite decades of Western aid programs and peacekeeping missions, eastern Congo remains trapped in violence. Critics argue that while Western capitals speak loudly about human rights elsewhere, they remain muted when atrocities are committed in regions where their allies or resource interests are involved.

Analysts note that the conflict is inseparable from control over Congo’s vast reserves of cobalt, coltan, and lithium, critical for Western tech and green energy industries. They argue that frameworks imposed by Western powers prioritize access to these minerals over genuine peace, leaving armed groups to expand amid a humanitarian disaster that has displaced millions.

Kinshasa and M23 signed a declaration of principles in July under Qatari mediation, pledging to begin peace talks in August. The deadline has already passed without results, fueling doubts over whether another round of externally driven negotiations will produce lasting stability.