Violence in Eastern Congo Persists as Peace Talks Stall

Violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains at a perilous level even as diplomatic efforts to end the long-running conflict falter. A combination of mass killings, sexual violence, and the forcible recruitment of civilians has continued alongside stalled peace talks, leaving millions displaced and civilians exposed to ongoing abuses by armed groups, including the M23 rebels and allied forces. International concerns are hardening as both the humanitarian emergency and the diplomatic impasse deepen.

A new rights briefing documents widespread abuses by the M23 and allied Wazalendo groups, including gang rapes, summary killings, and the deliberate targeting of hospitals and civilians. Survivors recount brutal assaults, with many attacks taking place while the attackers wore uniforms or spoke languages associated with the groups operating in the region. In many cases, women and girls were attacked in homes, fields, and shelters, as communities tried to endure the violence that has become a daily reality in places like Goma, Bukavu, and parts of North and South Kivu. One survivor described the enduring trauma of encounters with armed fighters, explaining how a uniform or...