Rwandan Opposition Urges US to Designate M23 as Terrorist Group

The Rwandan opposition has called on the United States Congress to formally list the M23 rebel movement as a terrorist organisation, citing UN-documented atrocities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

On 14 August 2025, following new US sanctions against armed groups in the DRC and certain Chinese companies, a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties submitted a letter to the US Senate. The correspondence expressed solidarity with the Congolese people and urged that the M23 — officially known as the AFC-M23 — be added to Washington’s list of foreign terrorist organisations.

The move aligns with the DRC government’s 2021 decision to classify the M23 as a terrorist group after its capture of the strategic border town of Bunagana.

The joint letter, reviewed by XTRAfrica, was signed by opposition leaders and several Rwandan civil society organisations. It urges US lawmakers to:

• Officially designate the AFC-M23 as a terrorist organisation under US law.

• End all security and military cooperation with the government of Rwanda, including Kigali’s role in UN peacekeeping operations.

• Strengthen international judicial cooperation to prosecute perpetrators and accomplices of crimes in the DRC.

• Support a comprehensive peace plan for the Great Lakes region based on democracy, human rights, justice, and reconciliation.

The correspondence cites evidence from the United Nations, international NGOs, and media investigations linking the M23 to serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Reported abuses include:

• Mass killings and executions — UN sources say more than 3,000 civilians were killed after the M23’s capture of Goma in 2012, with at least 319 deaths reported in July 2025 in areas including Kishishe, Rutshuru, Masisi, and Goma.