By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — A new Human Rights Watch report detailing recent abuses carried out by the rebel group M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released.
According to the report, the group has executed at least 44 people and raped at least 61 women since March. It is believed that the instances of rape may be higher than reported because of social stigma surrounding rape. Women are also often threatened with reprisal if they report the crime or seek medical attention.
The report also details the coercive recruiting tactics of M23 in Congo and Rwanda, often young men in Rwanda are promised jobs in the Congo only to end up forced into the militia. One man was killed for refusing to turn over his sons to the group.
The Rwandan military has been accused of directly supporting M23. Rwandan army officers have been sighted at M23 bases training new recruits and actively participating in recruitment efforts in Rwanda. Former M23 members reported seeing weapons, ammunition, food, and phone credit delivered from the Rwandan army.
“Not only is Rwanda allowing its territory to be used by the abusive M23 to get recruits and equipment, but the Rwandan military is still directly supporting the M23,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “This support is sustaining an armed group responsible for numerous killings, rapes and other serious abuses.”
The report came a day before the US Department of State called on Rwanda to stop supporting M23 and other rebel groups in the Congo. The State Department also urged the Rwandan government to follow through on its commitments to a peace and security cooperation agreement signed by regional governments in the beginning of the year.
The U.N. has also previously accused Rwanda of supporting rebel groups in Congo. An expert panel at the UN reported in June that Rwanda’s support for M23 had declined in recent months. Human Rights Watch contends that the support coming from the Rwandan army is still significant. “It does appear the support is more limited than it was last year, but what we have documented in terms of support is still quite significant,” said researcher and report author Ida Sawyer.
M23 spokesman Kabasha Amani called the report very partisan and based on rumor. “It’s not a report, these are just rumors,” Amani said. “We have grown used to this. It isn’t the first time they’ve said these things.”
On Friday the Congolese government issued international arrest warrants for four former members of M23. The warrants are for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture.
For further information, please see:
AFP — DR Congo issues warrants for Rwanda-based rebels — 26 July 2013
San Fransisco Chronicle — Congo issues warrants for former M23 rebel leaders — 26 July 2013
CBC News — Rwandan arms, fighters still sustaining M23 rebel forces in Congo — 23 July 2013
International Business Times — M23 Rebel’s Reign of Terror, Rape and Murder in DR Congo ‘Aided by Rwanda’ — 23 July 2013.
Voice of America — Human Rights Watch: M23 Abuses Continue — 23 July 2013
Voice of America — US Presses Rwanda to End Support for M23 Rebels — 23 July 2013
Human Rights Watch — DR Congo: M23 Rebels Kill, Rape Civilians — 22 July 2013
