#m23

January 28, 2025 - Protesters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, set fires at the embassies of France, Belgium, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and the United States, chanting slogans like "Thieves, get out!". The protesters targeted the embassies of countries they accuse of complicity with Rwanda and the M23 militia.

Killing, Rape, Abductions by Rwanda-Backed Armed Group in Uvira

(Kinshasa) – The M23 armed group and Rwandan military forces carried out an abusive month-long occupation of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Uvira beginning in December 2025, Human Right Watch said in a report released today.

The 23-page report,“‘We Are Civilians!’: Killings, Sexual Violence, and Abductions by the M23 and Rwandan Forces in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo,” documents the M23 and Rwandan forces’ occupation of Uvira, the second largest city in South Kivu province from December 10, 2025, days after the signing of the United States-brokered Washington Accords, until their withdrawal on January 17, 2026. During this time, these forces shot fleeing civilians, summarily executed more than 50 people during door-to-door searches, raped at least 8 women, and forcibly disappeared at least 12 people.

More than 7,000 people have been killed in eastern DRC since January as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, seize major cities, including Goma and Bukavu.

In Goma alone, 3,000 deaths have been reported, with 2,500 bodies buried unidentified and 1,500 still in morgues. Many of the dead are civilians.

The violence has also displaced 450,000 people following the destruction of 90 camps.

You saw the national football team cover their mouth, and point their fingers to their head in the CAN match against Ivory Coast last Wednesday?

It was to raise awareness for the surge in violence committed by M23 rebels in eastern Congo - with support from a neighbouring government, to destabilize a region that "happens to hold a lot of the world's very valued minerals".

People are being murdered, houses are being burnt. One again, thousands are fleeing their home, and join the refugee camps around Goma that already in October last year housed around 600.000 people.

Also Goma itself is surrounded, the supply lines for food from the country side to the city interrupted.

Why can't the international community do nothing more than empty declarations of solidarity and wishing for peace. The UN mission - which hardly had a mandate to intervene in case of violence against Congolese citizens - has had no positive impact.

Maybe we could finally consider putting pressure one the Rwandan goverment and its allies to actually put an end to these 30 years of violence and ruined lives in this region.

The same region that provides the world with materials for our phones, electrical and solar panels btw.