The United Nations Human Rights Office has accused M23 rebels of summarily executing children in Bukavu.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed concern for journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society members seeking protection from reprisals by M23.
South of Bunia, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels now control Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and the largest city in eastern Congo.
Over the weekend, the rebels also seized Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, after a series of rapid military advances. Congolese forces have offered little resistance.
“We do not have an overall figure” regarding the number of children executed, but “we have a large number of reports” that “need to be verified,” she stated, emphasising that many videos related to the situation are circulating on social media. Shamdasani explained that in Bukavu, “three boys were killed during an altercation with M23 members, according to information gathered from reliable sources.”
Reportedly, the three children had “collected weapons” they had found. “They were intercepted by M23,” who asked them to return the weapons, the spokesperson detailed: “They refused and were killed.”
Congolese authorities view the M23 rebels as a proxy army for Rwanda, which is reportedly backing the group with around 4,000 troops, according to evidence collected by UN experts.
Since 1996, Uganda and Rwanda have been involved in the conflict in eastern Congo, sometimes competing for influence among rebel groups opposed to Congo’s government.
Neighbouring countries have also faced accusations of illegally exploiting Congo’s vast mineral resources, including gold and coltan.
Under pressure from M23, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi recently turned to regional allies for support. Burundi, which has tense relations with Rwanda, deployed troops to fight alongside Congolese forces, while Tanzanian troops were also sent under the banner of a regional bloc.
