Current Affairs. A new report from Human Rights Watch, issued on June 10, reveals that the M23 armed group has forcibly conscripted thousands of individuals across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The human rights organization also highlights extremely harsh detention conditions that have led to numerous deaths among captives.
Widespread Forced Recruitment Operations
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the M23 significantly escalated its forced recruitment efforts following its seizure of the cities of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025. Thousands of individuals, including Congolese soldiers, members of local armed groups, and civilians, were reportedly apprehended and held in makeshift detention centers. Witnesses interviewed by the NGO recounted being abducted from streets, their residences, or during public gatherings at schools and churches, before being transferred to military camps.
Minors Among the Detained
The HRW report emphasizes that some captives were as young as 12 years old. Many of these minors were allegedly sent to training facilities where they received military and ideological instruction aimed at integrating them into the M23’s ranks. HRW asserts that these recruitments were carried out under severe coercion, with detainees facing death threats if they refused to join the armed group.
Deplorable Detention Conditions
The organization describes exceptionally harsh detention conditions, characterized by severe overcrowding, insufficient food and water, and persistent physical abuse. Former detainees have described witnessing deaths caused by starvation, dehydration, ill-treatment, or summary executions.
HRW indicates that the precise number of victims remains unknown, but the collected testimonies suggest that hundreds of individuals may have perished in these camps.
Allegations Also Target Rwanda
Several witnesses claimed to have identified M23 officers within the detention facilities. Some also stated that instructors and guards were of Rwandan nationality and that certain individuals wore uniforms consistent with those of the Rwandan armed forces. These accusations emerge amid heightened regional tensions, as Kigali continues to deny allegations of providing direct military support to the M23.
