Human Rights Watch, a non-state global organisation defending human dignity, has accused members of armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly the M23/AFC rebels, as well as the Congolese national army, of committing sexual violence against women.
The independent watch organisation, in collaboration with SOFEPADI, a Congolese women’s rights think tank, resolved that conflict-related sexual violence in eastern DRC has escalated while support to survivors has drastically dropped.
The escalation of violent conflict in North Kivu and South Kivu, and the shrinking charity funds, have resulted in restricted access to healthcare, significantly hindering women and girls experiencing sexual violence from receiving comprehensive support. A number of clinics that once provided essential healthcare and assistance have had to shut down.
“The armed groups and the military forces utilise sexual violence as a war weapon in the eastern DR Congo,” said Ida Sawyer, the Director of the Crises, Conflict and Arms Division of Human Rights Watch. She underlined the fact that “survivors of these atrocious crimes are confronted by a climate of impunity which protects those responsible for the crimes and a health system deprived of accompanying measures”.
Formed in 2012 from a mutiny within the Congolese army, the M23 rebel group has long destabilised eastern DRC, after accusing the country of failing to honour a 2009 peace agreement. The group quickly gained control of territory in North Kivu, including Goma, in 2012. M23 is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda, a claim reinforced by UN reports of Rwandan military involvement. Its pro‑Tutsi identity and alleged foreign support have made it a flashpoint in the Great Lakes region, where ethnic divisions and mineral wealth fuel conflict.
In January 2025, M23 fighters launched a major offensive and captured Goma after days of heavy battles with the Congolese army. The takeover left hundreds of civilians dead and hospitals overwhelmed. Congolese authorities accused Rwanda of deploying thousands of troops to support M23. On February 4, 2025, M23 declared a unilateral ceasefire citing humanitarian reasons, but analysts warn the conflict remains unresolved and tied to control of Congo’s mineral‑rich territories.
In November 2025, Human Rights Watch, in collaboration with the Office of Feminine Solidarity for Peace and Development, a local NGO in Beni and Bunia, interviewed 23 survivors of sexual violence in the northeastern region of the DRC. The researchers interacted with four Congolese survivors in Uganda who had fled from violence in Congo. They recounted scenes of extreme physical violence and their abandonment by local administrative and health authorities who were expected to come to their aid.
Human Rights Watch reported meeting with local health and judicial authorities in Congo, as well as representatives from national and international organisations that assist survivors. The organisation said it has reached out to the US State Department, the spokesperson for the Congolese government, and the leaders of the M23 rebellion to share their findings. However, they reportedly have not yet received a response from any of these entities.
Human Rights Watch, in collaboration with SOFEPADI, reports an alarming rise in sexual violence against women in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by armed groups, including the M23 rebels, and the Congolese national army. This surge in conflict-related sexual violence has been accompanied by a significant decrease in support for survivors due to restricted access to healthcare and the closure of critical clinics.
The M23 group, formed from a 2012 mutiny, has destabilized the region, capturing key territories like Goma. Accusations of Rwandan support for M23 persist, heightening tensions over ethnic divisions and control of mineral wealth. Despite a declared ceasefire in early 2025, the conflict remains unresolved.
Human Rights Watch gathered accounts from 23 sexual violence survivors, highlighting their abandonment by local authorities. Efforts to engage with various governmental and international entities have so far elicited no response, underscoring the challenge of addressing this humanitarian crisis.