DRC Accuses RDF and AFC/M23 of Killings, Torture and Abductions

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says more than 300 people were killed during June and July 2026 in territories controlled by the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebellion, as Kinshasa raised new allegations of serious abuses against civilians in the country's conflict-hit east.

In the Press Release statement issued Monday by the Ministry of Communication and Media, the government accused the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) personnel of involvement in summary executions, massacres, bombardments, sexual violence, torture, kidnappings and forced recruitment.

Radio Okapi reported that the government's consolidated figures put the number of people killed during the two-month period at more than 300.

The statement also alleges hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault, more than 300 cases of torture, and hundreds of abductions and forced recruitment incidents, including cases involving young people in Tshanzu and Rumangabo.

Kinshasa says civilians remain under pressure in occupied areas

According to Opinion Info's account of the government statement, Kinshasa says homes have been burned and looted while civilians have faced killings, sexual violence, torture, abductions and recruitment by force.

The government also accused authorities operating in AFC/M23-held territories of imposing unauthorized taxes on schools, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions.

It says fees have been demanded in some primary and nursery schools despite the DRC's free-primary-education policy, while educational institutions have allegedly faced a 17% levy on quarterly revenues.

Tshanzu and Rumangabo have appeared in earlier abuse investigations