A new report by the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) released on Friday accuses all parties involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) eastern provinces of North and South Kivu of committing severe violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report comes as continued violence in the eastern part of the country continues to claim civilian lives and cause new displacement.
“The atrocities described in this report are horrific,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in a statement.
"It is heartbreaking and deeply frustrating to witness, once again, the dehumanization of the civilian population by those in power who are failing in their responsibilities."
Since late 2024, the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) armed group, backed by the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF), as well as the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and affiliated armed groups, have been responsible for widespread human rights violations.
The M23 is a rebel group that primarily operates in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), mainly in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri. The group is involved in an ongoing conflict with the Congolese army and other armed groups, causing significant displacement and exacerbating the region's humanitarian crisis.
Since the beginning of 2025, the M23 rebel group has seized control of various territories, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and large-scale displacement, as well as the establishment of parallel administrations.
The M23 receives support from neighboring Rwanda, which has sent troops across the border to reinforce the M23 offensive. The armed group is known for competing for control of the region's valuable mineral resources.
Friday’s UN report, produced by the OHCHR’s Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on the situation in North and South Kivu provinces as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, highlights the failure of all parties to protect civilians.
This failure was particularly evident during the takeover of the city of Goma by the M23 and the RDF in late January of this year, as well as during attacks on schools and hospitals. With support from the RDF, the M23 captured major cities in North and South Kivu and engaged in a campaign of intimidation and violent repression.
“M23 members also systematically carried out widespread sexual violence, mainly in the form of gang rape, including sexual slavery. Women and girls were disproportionately targeted, but men, boys, and LGBT individuals were also victims of sexual violence, including in detention,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva on Friday.
She stated that rapes were repeated over prolonged periods, often in conjunction with additional acts of physical and psychological torture and other mistreatment, with the clear intent to degrade, punish, and destroy the dignity of the victims.
“Hundreds of children were detained by M23, and young males forcibly recruited. The report exposes the enormous toll of the conflict on children of all ages,” she added.
The report identifies daily violations across the entirety of the territory under M23’s control that followed discernible, recurring patterns, indicating a high degree of organization, planning, and resource mobilization.
“We have reasonable grounds to believe that M23 members may have committed [...] the crimes against humanity of murder, severe deprivation of liberty, torture, rape and sexual slavery [...], enforced disappearance, and deportation or forcible transfer of population,” Shamdasani said.
The FFM identified daily violations throughout the territory under the M23's control.
“The report also documents grave violations committed by the DRC armed forces and affiliated armed groups, such as the Wazalendo, including deliberate killing of civilians,” the spokesperson said.
The report documents the deliberate killing of civilians by the Congolese armed forces following clashes with Wazalendo, as well as a pattern of widespread sexual violence and looting by FARDC and Wazalendo members during their retreat from the frontlines.
“Wazalendo armed groups recruited children under the age of 15 and used them in hostilities, the report adds. These children were used in combat and in support roles, with girls also being used for sexual purposes,” Shamdasani added.
According to the report, both DRC and Rwanda are responsible for supporting armed groups with a history of serious abuses and for failing to uphold their obligations to respect international humanitarian law (IHL) and protect civilians from harm.
"Specifically, the report stresses that Rwanda is responsible for violations directly committed by its armed forces on the territory of the DRC and notes that the FFM had received “credible allegations concerning the covert presence of RDF personnel within M23," Shamdasani said.
The report also found that DRC is responsible for violations committed by its armed forces and affiliated armed groups, as long as their members acted under the DRC's direction or control.
“It is imperative to promptly and independently investigate all allegations of violations with a view to ensuring accountability and victims’ right to truth, justice and reparations, especially guarantees of non-repetition,” High Commissioner Türk said.
“The swift implementation of the Commission of Inquiry mandated by the Human Rights Council to continue this vital work is essential. We owe no less to the untold number of victims.”
The report also expresses concern over the lack of focus on accountability and support for victims in the peace agreement signed by DRC and Rwanda on June 27, 2025.
On July 19, 2025, the DRC government and the M23 group signed a Declaration of Principles in Qatar, agreeing to a ceasefire and further negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement. This followed the June 27 peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda in Washington, D.C.
However, meaningful progress on the ground has been limited, leaving the affected communities in a state of deep uncertainty.
Civilians are fleeing as violence and displacement surge
DR Congo has experienced ongoing conflict in its eastern provinces, particularly in North and South Kivu, which has led to a deteriorating humanitarian situation and mass displacement. The situation deteriorated drastically in the first eight months of the year as the conflict in the east dragged on.
The human rights and humanitarian crises in DRC have been spiraling downward for years, prompting senior UN officials to warn of the dire situation and urge the international community to pay more attention to the plight of Congolese civilians.
On Wednesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ongoing violence in eastern Congo continues to claim civilian lives and force people from their homes — as illustrated by recent reports from South Kivu province.
In the northern part of the province, OCHA reported that clashes between armed groups persist in Kalehe territory. Killings of civilians and rape of women have been reported in several villages in the territory during these clashes. Nearly 23,000 people have fled their homes due to the violence in Kalehe, adding to the more than 128,000 people displaced between May and August of this year.
In the neighboring Walungu territory, armed clashes left numerous civilians dead and several others injured. Thousands were displaced by the violence and joined the estimated 100,000 people already displaced in Walungu, who currently lack assistance due to deteriorating security conditions and access restrictions.
The eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, have been plagued by violence for decades, as non-state armed groups fight for control of the region's rich natural resources. Many of those forced to flee have been displaced multiple times. Urgent humanitarian needs include protection, food, shelter, and sanitation
Despite the severity of the situation, the world has largely turned a blind eye to the ongoing emergency. With more than 21 million people in need of assistance nationwide, the situation in DR Congo is one of world’s most severe and complex humanitarian crises.
Access restrictions and severe funding shortfalls continue to hamper the humanitarian response. The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan seeks US$2.5 billion to assist 11 million people but is currently funded at less than 15 percent, having received only $376 million to date. This shortage severely limits humanitarian organizations' ability to reach everyone in need.
Ebola outbreak adds to worsening crisis
In a related development, health authorities in the DRC declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province, where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths — including four health workers — had been reported as of Thursday.
The outbreak has affected several health zones in Kasai Province, where health officials are investigating the reported cases and deaths, which presented symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhaging.
Further information
Full text: Report of the OHCHR Fact-Finding Mission on the situation in North and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (A/HRC/60/80), advance unedited version, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, published September 5, 2025
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/ffmk-drc/a-hrc-60-80-auv-en.pdf