Rwanda has strongly rejected allegations by the United Nations that its troops participated alongside M23 rebels in the massacre of hundreds of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, calling the claims “false” and “unacceptable.” The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that M23 fighters killed at least 319 civilians between July 9 and July 21 in four villages across North Kivu province’s Rutshuru territory. According to the UN, victims were attacked on farms and in their homes, with Rwandan forces allegedly providing support.
In a statement Monday, Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the report, accusing the UN of making baseless accusations that undermine regional peace efforts. Kigali maintains it has no military presence in DR Congo and denies supplying the M23 with weapons, troops, or logistics. The killings come despite a recent declaration of principles signed in July between the Congolese government and M23 leaders in Doha, Qatar, which aimed to pave the way for a permanent ceasefire. However, fighting has persisted, raising doubts about meeting the August 18 deadline for a final peace deal.
Multiple UN investigations in recent years have accused Rwanda of backing M23 with thousands of soldiers and heavy equipment—charges Kigali has consistently refuted. The ongoing conflict has displaced millions and threatens humanitarian conditions in eastern DR Congo, where civilian safety and the return of displaced persons remain central to any long-term resolution.
