Large-scale forced recruitment campaigns documented

Following the capture of key cities such as Goma and Bukavu in early 2025, the M23 intensified its forced recruitment operations. Victims—including Congolese military personnel, local armed group members, and civilians—were reportedly seized from streets, homes, schools, and churches before being transferred to makeshift military training camps. Human rights monitors confirm that these abductions occurred under extreme duress, with individuals threatened with death if they resisted joining the armed faction.

Children among the abducted

The latest findings indicate that some conscripts were as young as 12 years old. These minors, along with adults, were reportedly subjected to military and ideological indoctrination in remote camps. Survivors describe harrowing conditions, including physical abuse and coercive tactics designed to break their resistance.

Inhumane detention conditions fuel severe death toll

Former detainees describe appalling conditions marked by extreme overcrowding, starvation, and systematic physical violence. Multiple accounts attribute numerous deaths to dehydration, starvation, beatings, and summary executions. While exact casualty figures remain unverified, testimonies strongly suggest that hundreds have perished in these detention centers.

Rwandan military presence under scrutiny

Several detainees have identified Rwandan officers within M23-controlled facilities, with some guards wearing uniforms identical to those of the Rwandan military. These claims emerge amid escalating regional tensions, as Kigali continues to deny allegations of direct military support to the M23.