M23/AFC Denies Killing Civilians in Rutshuru

The March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) has denied that its fighters killed 10 civilians in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mark Mongba Hazukay issued a statement saying that the civilians were killed on June 2, 2026, in Kiseguru locality near Virunga National Park, located in Binza Groupement, Bwito Chiefdom.

According to Hazukay, M23 fighters also arrested several civilians and transferred them to Kanyangambi Central Prison in Rutshuru Centre. He said that the detainees were accused of being members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a predominantly Hutu rebel group operating in eastern DRC.

Hazukay condemned what he described as a new violation of international humanitarian law by the M23 rebels and reaffirmed the Congolese army’s commitment to protecting civilians and safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity.

However, on Friday, M23/AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka dismissed the accusations as false, unfounded, and politically motivated. He says the allegations form part of a systematic disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Kinshasa government to divert national and international attention from violations committed by its coalition forces.

In a statement, Kanyuka said it is contradictory for the Congolese government to portray itself as a defender of civilians while, he claims, its military operations have repeatedly exposed civilian populations to bombings, combat drone strikes, and indiscriminate attacks that have resulted in deaths and mass displacement.

Kanyuka further argues that the latest allegations are part of a familiar strategy aimed at concealing the failures of the government’s security policies and shifting responsibility for the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC.

“The Congo River Alliance categorically rejects the statement by FARDC dated June 3, 2026, which attempts to attribute to our movement alleged acts of executing civilians in the locality of Kiseguru, in the territory of Rutshuru.” said Kanyuka in a statement.

He described the allegations as false, unfounded, and politically motivated.”They are part of a systematic disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Kinshasa regime to divert national and international public attention from the serious violations committed by its coalition forces,” he added 

Kanyuka further stated that: “This new accusation is part of a well-known strategy that involves fabricating false narratives in order to mask the failure of the regime’s security policies and to conceal the real responsibilities of its forces in the deterioration of the security situation.”

He adds that M23/AFC remains committed to the protection of civilians, respect for international humanitarian law, and efforts to find a lasting solution to the root causes of the Congolese crisis.

M23/AFC has long regarded the FDLR as one of its principal enemies. The rebel movement accuses the FDLR of collaborating with FARDC forces and allied militias in attacks against Congolese Tutsi communities in North and South Kivu provinces.

This is not the first time FARDC has accused M23 of killing civilians. In December 2022, the Congolese army alleged that M23 fighters killed 50 civilians in Kishishe locality, Bambo Groupement, Bwito Chiefdom. M23 denied the allegations.

M23 currently controls large parts of North and South Kivu provinces. The movement, which re-emerged in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and military commander Sultan Makenga, remains engaged in conflict with Congolese government forces in eastern DRC.

The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting M23, allegations that have repeatedly been denied by both Kigali and the rebel movement.

M23/AFC says its armed struggle is intended to address corruption, discrimination, insecurity, and governance failures in the DRC.In early 2025, the movement intensified its military campaign in eastern Congo, capturing several strategic towns and raising concerns about a wider regional conflict.