Rwanda rejects HRW report alleging torture and killings by RDF in Eastern DRC

The 78-page report, titled “Death Was Everywhere” and published on June 10, 2026, alleges that the M23 rebel movement and the RDF were involved in a range of human rights abuses, including forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture, killings, and forced labor.

The 78-page report, titled “Death Was Everywhere” and published on June 10, 2026, alleges that the M23 rebel movement and the RDF were involved in a range of human rights abuses, including forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture, killings, and forced labor.

According to HRW, researchers interviewed more than 100 people, including former detainees, former fighters, and witnesses to abuses in areas controlled by M23. The organization claims that civilians, including children as young as 12 years old, were forced to participate in military activities.

In response, Rwanda’s Office of the Government Spokesperson (OGS) dismissed the allegations and objected to what it described as HRW’s attempt to treat the RDF and M23 as a single actor.

In a statement, the OGS said: “Rwanda rejects HRW’s efforts to portray M23 and the RDF as the same. Allegations concerning M23 cannot automatically be attributed to the RDF.”

The Rwandan government also pointed out that the report itself acknowledges cooperation between the Congolese government in Kinshasa and several armed groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Kigali argued that HRW failed to adequately address the actions and responsibilities of these armed groups and their leaders.

The government further criticized the methodology used in preparing the report, claiming that investigators did not conduct on-site forensic examinations, exhume graves, or use scientific evidence to verify the allegations.

Meanwhile, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka also rejected the report, describing it as inaccurate and politically motivated. He argued that it unfairly targets M23 while overlooking the actions of armed groups allied with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

Rwanda has called for an independent and professionally conducted investigation into the allegations. The government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national security and supporting peaceful solutions to the conflict through dialogue and regional cooperation.

The allegations come amid ongoing tensions and conflict in eastern DRC, where regional and international actors continue to seek a lasting political and security settlement.