Abuse of power & retaliationSexual abuse & harassment

UN investigators found reasonable grounds that M23 members committed rape and sexual slavery as war crimes in eastern Congo; the group is not listed as having made commitments to stop

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesNorth Kivu and South Kivu Provinces · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23)

Also named

Oversight

United Nations Secretary-General

UN Fact-Finding Mission on North and South Kivu

What happened

The UN Secretary-General's 2026 CRSV report found documented cases of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery implicating M23 rose from 152 in 2024 to 439 in 2025, occurring during detention and daily cordon-and-search operations and affecting women, girls, men, boys and LGBT individuals; in its annex, M23 (AFC/M23) is listed without the marker used for parties that have made a formal commitment to address conflict-related sexual violence. A separate OHCHR-mandated Fact-Finding Mission (A/HRC/60/80, 5 September 2025) found reasonable grounds that M23 members committed the war crimes and, on the basis of an organizational policy, the crimes against humanity of rape and sexual slavery, including inside 'training' camps where women were coerced into sex in exchange for food and men who tried to escape were executed. A Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry mandated in February 2025 to investigate potential war crimes in the region had not begun its work as of September 2025 due to UN funding shortfalls.

Sources (3)

OHCHR Fact-Finding Mission on North and South Kivu (A/HRC/60/80)The FFM found reasonable grounds to believe that M23 members ... committed the war crimes of rape and sexual slavery ... [and] the crimes against humanity of ... rape and sexual slavery, enslavement in 'training' camps ... Guards from Tshanzu removed women from their enclosures at night, and many women detainees ... were subjected to sexual exploitation, forced to exchange sex for food.

UN NewsA Commission of Inquiry was mandated by the Human Rights Council in February to investigate potential war crimes, but the panel lacks adequate funding due to UN cash shortages, halting the high-level probe before it could begin.

UN Secretary-General, Conflict-related sexual violence report (S/2026/321)Documented cases implicating M23, including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, rose from 152 in 2024 to 439 in 2025 ... Violations implicating M23 occurred in detention and during cordon-and-search operations, affecting women, girls, men and boys, as well as LGBT individuals.

Response

Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23)

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