Rwanda & M23 War Crimes in Congo: Full UN Report 2025

For years, eastern Congo has been on fire. Behind the smoke are bullets, minerals, and silence. But now, the truth is clearer than ever: Paul Kagame’s regime in Rwanda and the M23 rebel group are deeply linked in crimes against the Congolese people.

This is not just a local issue. It’s a crisis with international law violations, UN embargo breaches, and countless civilian deaths.

Below, we break down the full web of crimes committed by Rwanda and its proxy militia, M23, based on UN expert reports for 2025 and field investigations.

Rwanda’s Direct Role in Congo’s Conflict

• Illegal Deployment of Rwandan Troops

Rwanda’s army, the RDF (Rwanda Defence Force), has repeatedly crossed into Congolese territory. They now occupy towns like major cities like Bunagana, Goma, and Bukavu and other parts of North Kivu, directly violating Congo’s sovereignty and international law.

UN reports confirm RDF presence on Congolese soil, acting in coordination with M23 fighters.

• Command and Control Over M23

RDF generals don’t just support M23. They command it.

Intercepted communications by the UN reveal that Rwandan generals are in daily contact with M23 field leaders, giving them orders and battlefield strategy. This proves that M23 is not an independent group — it is a shadow army controlled from Kigali.

• Mineral Looting and Smuggling

In M23-controlled areas, coltan, gold, and cassiterite are stolen, then smuggled through Rwanda using fake documents to make it look like the minerals came from within Rwanda.

These stolen resources fuel the war and fund Rwanda’s economy, while Congolese communities suffer and starve.

• Arms Transfers Despite UN Sanctions

  • Despite a UN arms embargo, Rwanda has supplied M23 with:

  • Anti-aircraft weapons

  • Military drones

  • Ammunition and uniforms

  • This military support breaks international law and fuels one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.

    
    

Civilian Killings and Attacks on Peacekeepers

RDF and M23 have shelled towns filled with civilians. They have also fired on UN peacekeeping bases (MONUSCO) — an act considered a war crime under international law.

Obstructing the UN and Hiding Evidence

UN experts sent to investigate atrocities have been threatened, denied access, and even chased away from crime scenes. M23 and RDF forces try to clean up the blood and move the bodies before investigators arrive.

M23 Rebel Group: Crimes on the Ground

• Massacres and Executions

M23 has executed civilians, especially Hutus accused of resisting occupation. The Kishishe massacre stands out, where dozens were slaughtered in reprisal killings.

• Child Soldiers

M23 has recruited children, training them to fight in violation of international child protection laws. These children are taken from villages, forced into camps, and sent to the front lines.

• Sexual Violence

Women in occupied villages live in fear. M23 fighters have used rape as a weapon, attacking women to terrorize whole communities.

• Forced Taxation and Extortion

M23 runs a shadow government in towns it controls. They force locals to pay taxes, demand bribes from transporters, and take money from traders. Those who refuse are beaten or disappear.

• Attacks on Aid Workers

Humanitarian convoys have been blocked or looted. Aid workers have been threatened or killed, worsening the suffering of displaced families.

• Occupation of Schools and Hospitals

Schools and health centers are turned into military bases. Children no longer go to class. Sick people can’t get help. Life stops when M23 arrives.

Rwanda’s Secret Web: Intelligence and Propaganda

• Covert Intelligence Operations

Rwandan agents operate inside Congo, disguised as aid workers or civilians. They spy, collect data, and coordinate M23 strategies on the ground.

• Smuggling Routes Through Uganda and Rwanda

Stolen minerals from Congo are routed through Uganda and Rwanda, with border agents often complicit. This smuggling network is what keeps M23 armed and financed.

• Propaganda and False Narratives

Kagame’s government pushes the idea that M23 is a “political movement.” In reality, M23 is a militia guilty of massacres, rape, and war crimes.

Rwanda has also used media to discredit UN experts and label dissenters as “genocide deniers”.

• Use of Rwandan Drones in Congo’s Airspace

Rwanda has flown drones and aircraft over Congolese territory to strike Congolese army positions and spy on their movements, another illegal act.