- Sécurité
A recent comprehensive report from the United Nations Group of Experts, released on June 11, 2026, unequivocally identifies the AFC/M23 as the primary non-state armed group responsible for widespread violations of international humanitarian law across the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The documented atrocities paint a grim picture: systematic executions, the deliberate destruction of entire villages, and the burning of essential livelihoods in the Bwito and Bwisha chiefdoms within Rutshuru territory. Furthermore, a severe humanitarian blockade has been imposed on Minembwe, effectively cutting off the Banyamulenge population from vital necessities and basic supplies.
Alarmingly, the report highlights an “unprecedented” surge in conflict-related sexual violence since 2024, with women and girls disproportionately bearing the brunt of these horrific acts, primarily perpetrated by the AFC/M23.
The findings also note that the FARDC, the Congolese national army, stands as the principal state actor implicated in these violations. This dual attribution of responsibility complicates the prevailing narrative, challenging attempts to portray the conflict as solely an external aggression and underscoring the multifaceted nature of the crisis gripping the region.
