The human rights crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to worsen as fighting intensifies between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group. According to the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the M23’s recent takeover of Goma has enabled the group to push further south, with reports indicating they have advanced toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
The ongoing hostilities have had devastating consequences for civilians. Bombing raids have struck at least two Internally Displaced Person (IDP) sites, resulting in casualties among vulnerable populations. Additionally, between January 26 and 28, M23 forces were responsible for executing at least 12 individuals, further deepening the violence and fear in the region.
Sexual violence continues to be a pervasive issue in the conflict, with the OHCHR documenting disturbing cases of abuse. The Congolese army, together with allied Wazalendo fighters, has been implicated in incidents of conflict-related sexual violence in Kalehe territory, including reports of gang rapes. It is also alleged that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, highlighting the ongoing brutality faced by women in the region.
M23-controlled areas have also seen civilians subjected to forced displacement, with the group occupying schools and hospitals, expelling IDPs from camps, and forcing the population into conscription and labor. In a particularly harrowing event, at least 165 women were reportedly raped by male inmates following a massive prison break in Goma on January 27, as M23 forces assaulted the town and freed more than 4,000 prisoners.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed alarm over the escalation of conflict-related sexual violence, which has long been a horrific feature of armed conflict in eastern DRC. He warned that the ongoing violence, coupled with the widespread proliferation of weapons in Goma, is heightening the risks of further serious violations and abuses.
The OHCHR continues to receive urgent pleas from civilians seeking protection, and efforts are underway with UN partners to ensure the safety of displaced populations. However, as M23 forces reportedly close in on Bukavu, the situation remains dire.
High Commissioner Türk has called for an immediate end to the violence and urged all parties involved to uphold their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. He emphasized the need for thorough investigations into these violations, with a focus on bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring long-term accountability.
