DRC Crisis: M23 Rebels Expel Civilians to Rwanda, Escalating Tensions in Eastern Congo
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M23 rebels expel hundreds of civilians from Goma to Rwanda, sparking alarm over human rights violations and worsening the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.
Thousands of civilians were expelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into neighboring Rwanda over the weekend by the M23 rebel group, in a move that has sparked outrage and deepened an already dire humanitarian situation in the country’s troubled eastern region.
On Saturday, armed fighters from the M23 forcibly removed individuals from the city of Goma, a key urban center in eastern Congo. Many of those targeted were described as being of Rwandan origin, though most had long resided in displacement camps within Congolese territory.
By Monday, M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma publicly presented a group of 181 people, claiming they were Rwandan nationals who had been living in Goma illegally. Accompanying them were thousands of women and children, presumed to be family members. Witnesses said the group was loaded into trucks and driven toward the border, while their Congolese-issued identity documents were seized and burned by the rebels. The M23 alleged that the documents were fraudulent and invalid.
“These people were living here illegally,” Ngoma stated. “We are simply correcting an injustice. The documents they presented were not legitimate, and the state has the right to act.”
However, local sources and humanitarian workers dispute the legitimacy of the mass expulsion, labeling it a violation of human rights and international law. Many of those deported hailed from the Karenga region in North Kivu, which had been under the control of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a militia group accused of atrocities and long targeted by both the Rwandan and Congolese governments.
The Rwandan government and the M23 both accuse the Congolese authorities of backing the FDLR, despite Kinshasa’s denial. These mutual allegations have fueled years of conflict in the mineral-rich region, where armed factions compete for control of land and resources.
UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun confirmed that at least 360 people were repatriated to Rwanda on Saturday alone. “The manner in which they were expelled raises serious humanitarian and legal concerns,” she said.
Most of those expelled had been residing in camps for internally displaced people in Sake, a town located just a few kilometers from Goma. These camps have swelled in recent years as renewed clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Rising Tensions and Humanitarian Fallout
The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, first rose to prominence in 2012 before being defeated and disbanded in 2013. However, they resurfaced in late 2021 and have since captured large swaths of territory in North Kivu province, including towns near Goma.
According to a recent report by United Nations experts, the M23 receives direct support from Rwanda, including an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops currently operating in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies these claims, despite mounting evidence and repeated accusations from both Congolese and international observers.
The ongoing conflict has further destabilized an already fragile region, displacing more than 1 million people and putting immense pressure on humanitarian aid groups.
“This latest incident involving mass expulsions is part of a wider pattern of abuse,” said a representative of a local human rights organization in Goma. “We are witnessing a breakdown of order, with armed groups now assuming the role of state actors—deciding who belongs and who does not.”
A Region in Crisis
Eastern Congo’s rich deposits of gold, coltan, and other minerals have long made it a target for both domestic and foreign armed actors. Decades of weak governance and foreign interference have created fertile ground for cycles of violence.
As international pressure mounts for a resolution to the crisis, the future of civilians in the conflict zone remains uncertain. Humanitarian agencies have called for an independent investigation into the expulsions and for urgent assistance to be delivered to displaced populations along the border.
Meanwhile, the government in Kinshasa has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, as tensions with both M23 and Rwanda continue to escalate.
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