GENEVA - UN experts* today appealed for an end to M23's reign of terror by sexual torture and violence amid a growing number of testimonies from civilian victims. They called on States and the United Nations to help resurrect the ceasefire deal signed between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group in December 2025.
"Rapes, gang rapes, violent assaults and killings of civilians are a common feature of M23's modus operandi," the experts said. "While these crimes are not exclusive to M23, the number of individuals affected is staggering and must end."
The Secretary General reported that over 90,000 cases of sexual violence perpetrated in the context of the armed conflict had been recorded in 2025. As sexual violence disproportionately affects women and girls, the experts recalled that addressing it requires a distinct gender-responsive and survivor-centred approach.
The experts warned that M23 has established a de facto system of authority in territories under its control in which arbitrary arrest and detention, torture (including sexual torture), forced labour, and forced armed recruitment are being used to exercise control over the civilian population.
Reports show that these arbitrary arrests and detentions cite a wide range of unlawful grounds, such as collaboration with DRC's Armed Forces or Wazalendo groups, failure to comply with compulsory communal labour or a mere suspicion of criminal activity. There are also reports of abductions, arson and blackmail.
"These cases form part of an extremely worrying situation of widespread violence against the civilian population, which calls for urgent attention from the international community," the experts said.
Those arrested are reportedly transferred to unofficial places of detention where they are held in severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with little or no access to medical care and systematic deprivation of food and water. Detainees are reportedly subjected to repeated physical violence, including daily beatings, and several deaths in custody have reportedly been recorded. In numerous cases, the release of detained persons reportedly depended upon payments demanded from their relatives.
"The violence is unacceptable. It must end immediately and be thoroughly investigated so that those responsible are held accountable," the experts said. "All parties to the conflict must comply with international human rights and humanitarian law and take all means necessary to protect civilians from harm."
The experts are in contact with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and have brought their concerns to the attention of the Government of Rwanda.
