Amnesty International accuses rebel group M23 of summary executions and rapes in eastern DRC

It points to a campaign by rebels to punish and humiliate alleged supporters of the FLDR and the Mai-Mai

17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group was reportedly behind the execution of at least 20 people and raped more than 60 women and girls as part of its offensives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to The non-governmental organization Amnesty International denounced this Friday.

The NGO has pointed out that survivors and other witnesses have reported that, between November 21 and 30, 2022, members of the rebel group summarily executed 20 people and raped 66 women and girls, mainly in the town of Kishishe, where the DRC government accused the M23 of committing a massacre.

Amnesty has highlighted that the information gathered suggests that these actions were part of a campaign by the rebels to punish and humiliate civilians considered to be followers of rival armed groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) – a group armed rebel founded and composed mainly of Hutus responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda– and the Mai-Mai.

“Since these attacks, the survivors have been living in a state of terror and extreme destitution. While some rape survivors received basic medical care at community health facilities, the majority are in dire need of medical and psychological care, as well as humanitarian assistance,” he said. said the NGO’s director for eastern and southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah.

Thus, those interviewed by the organization have indicated that the militiamen went house to house after taking control of Kishishe and executed the adult men, while they raped, in some cases in groups, women and girls. Among them is Aline, who was raped in a group on November 29 along with six other women who tried to hide in her house.

“They went through the gates of the compound and surrounded all the men present, seven in total, whom they killed. Five soldiers then raped six women and me. They called us FDLR wives,” Aline said.

Eugenie has recounted a similar experience after being raped just a day later by three members of the M23 – made up of Congolese Tutsis – in front of a church where she had sought refuge with her family after the fighting in Kishishe. “They said we were all from the FDLR. They separated the men and shot them, including my husband and my two children. Three M23 soldiers took me behind the church and took turns raping me. I thought I would not survive,” she said.

Another woman who was raped in front of this same church has pointed out that she saw many bodies of men executed in the place. “I counted up to 80 bodies of men who were shot by M23 soldiers in the church. I have never seen so many corpses. I fainted before I could count them all,” she has asserted.

Amnesty has pointed out that of the thirteen survivors who have said they were raped during these two days, twelve added that their husbands and adult children were murdered in cold blood.

Immaculée has denounced that M23 militiamen “took turns” to “brutally rape her in the presence of her terrified young children.” “After raping me, they took all my valuables and my two goats. We have found shelter, but we lack everything. We survived by the goodwill of people who don’t have much to themselves. I have survived the rape, but I don’t I know if my children and I will survive hunger,” she stressed.

Among the reported cases is also that of Mupenzi, raped on November 21 in Bambo after members of the M23 executed her husband. “I went to the health center and received painkillers, but have been suffering from severe back and stomach pain ever since. The head nurse at the health center told me they couldn’t do more for me because they lack equipment and specialists.” has regretted

In this sense, a health worker interviewed in mid-December has confirmed that there is a lack of “doctors, medical equipment and supplies.” “Even post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits — HIV drugs taken within 72 hours of possible exposure to the virus — have been depleted, with no prospect of replenishment. The situation is unsustainable,” he added. he.

Chagutah also regretted that the DRC authorities have not “effectively” investigated allegations of summary executions, rape and other international crimes in connection with the M23 offensives, before stressing that “their inability to hold those responsible accountable shows complete contempt for the victims.” Amnesty has outlined that the actions of the rebels in the Kishishe area amount to war crimes.

“The DRC authorities, with international support, including through political processes led by the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU), must hold those responsible for these heinous crimes to account in order to bring justice to the victims. They must urgently take all the necessary steps to guarantee that the survivors of these crimes receive promptly adequate medical care and humanitarian assistance,” he added.

UNITED NATIONS CHARGES

The United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) revealed in December that a “preliminary investigation” had confirmed that “the M23 rebels killed at least 131 civilians -102 men, 17 women and twelve children- in acts of reprisals against the civilian population between November 29 and 30 in Kishishe and Bambo”, both located in the province of North Kivu.

“The victims were executed arbitrarily by shooting or with bladed weapons. Eight other people were injured and 60 were kidnapped. At least 22 women and five girls were raped,” he said, before insisting that “this violence was committed in the framework of a campaign of murders, rapes, kidnappings and looting against these two towns in Rutshuru territory in retaliation for clashes between the M23 and the FDLR and Mai-Mai armed groups”.

In response, M23 denied the accusations, saying it was “shocked” to “find out that an organization of the caliber of MONUSCO can do such a botched job.” Thus, he denounced the “genocide” in areas under government control and the beheading of several people at the hands of the Army and groups that Kinshasa allegedly supports, including the FDLR.

“MONUSCO says that these events took place simultaneously on November 29 in Kishishe and Bambo, but since November 21 there has been no fighting in Bambo,” he said. “M23 does not give credibility to the content of the communiqué, rejects it and asks the UN to do the same, since the UN Human Rights Office in DRC has caused the loss of reputation of the organization by aligning itself with the government coalition “, he pointed.

The M23 has been accused since November 2021 of carrying out attacks against Army positions in North Kivu, despite the Congolese authorities and the M23 signing a peace agreement in December 2013 after fighting since 2012 with the Army, with the support of United Nations troops.

The situation has sparked a rise in tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, which accuses Kinshasa of backing the FDLR and allowing them to attack Congolese Tutsis. United Nations experts affirmed in a recent report that the Rwandan authorities maintain a “direct intervention” in the African country through their support for the group and pointed to a “collusion” between the Army, the FLDR and the Mai-Mai militias.