An armed group backed by the Congolese army (FARDC) has killed and tortured civilians, looted property, and abducted women as sexual slaves in Rutshuru territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International said today.
The Collective of Movements for Change-People’s Defence Forces (CMC-FDP) is a member of the Wazalendo (“patriots” in Swahili), a loose coalition of armed groups that the Congolese army uses as proxy forces in its ongoing fight against the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23). CMC-FDP operates primarily in the Bukombo area of Rutshuru, which is currently controlled by M23.
Civilians who live in and around Bukombo are trapped, caught between the brutality of M23 and CMC-FDP. What they are forced to endure on a daily basis is horrific, especially in remote areas where the CMC-FDP operates with complete impunity
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
CMC-FDP maintains remote bases in Bukombo and targets civilians, often at night, or in areas with few M23 fighters. After clashes with M23, CMC-FDP fighters have taken revenge on family members with perceived links to M23. These abuses against civilians violate international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.
