Rwanda Rejects M23 Massacre Claims in DR Congo

Addis Ababa, August 23, 2025 (ENA)—Rwanda has firmly rejected accusations that its backed M23 rebels massacred hundreds of people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The accusations were first reported by Reuters, citing findings from the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office and Human Rights Watch.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said the rebels killed at least 319 civilians in four villages in Rutshuru.

Most of the victims were farmers working in their fields when the brutal attacks occurred between July 9 and July 21.

The government of Rwanda said in a statement that the serious allegations “have no basis in fact and lack any credible evidence.”

This persistent violence in eastern Congo threatens U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for peace and stability in the troubled region.

The region has been plagued by war for decades and is extremely rich in valuable minerals like gold, cobalt, and coltan.

 A recent peace agreement requires Congo to “neutralise” the FDLR, a Congo-based armed group that is a remnant of the 1994 genocide.

Rwanda has long denied helping the M23 rebels, stating that its forces act solely in a form of self-defence.

The accusations of a massacre were reported by the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch, which said the number of victims may exceed 300.

Rwanda has also denied that its military had aided the killing of civilians in eastern Congo farms, as alleged by the UN rights office.