Amnesty International has accused the AFC/M23 armed group of committing human rights abuses in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo under its control, including killings, torture and forced labour at mining sites.
The allegations are contained in a new report released on Monday, September 21, 2026. The organization says some AFC/M23 fighters subjected miners to abuse at mining sites in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Amnesty International said its investigation was based on interviews with 26 people, as well as an analysis of photographs and videos relating to events in the affected areas.
The organization said it documented 18 cases involving miners who were allegedly killed in Rubaya, North Kivu, and Lomera, South Kivu.
According to the report, 10 of the victims were allegedly beaten to death, two were shot, while six others were found dead after reportedly being abducted.
Amnesty International also said 16 miners and other residents from the two areas told its investigators that they had been tortured or otherwise mistreated.
In Rubaya, some mine workers reportedly said they were held in an underground room and beaten as many as three times a day.
The report further alleges that some miners were forced to continue working underground for more than a week. Others were allegedly threatened with being sent to M23 military training camps or were required to pay money to secure their release.
Amnesty International said the allegations point to serious abuses against mine workers, particularly in areas under AFC/M23 control.
The organization also made allegations concerning the movement of minerals into Rwanda.
Amnesty International said gold and coltan extracted in the affected areas were transported into Rwanda illegally. It said some bags containing gold were transported by boat through Kamembe in Rwanda from the Lomera area of South Kivu.
The organization said it contacted AFC/M23 representatives and Rwandan authorities before publishing the report, giving them an opportunity to respond to the allegations, but said it did not receive a response.
At the time of publication, neither AFC/M23 nor the Rwandan government had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the report.
Amnesty International has previously published reports documenting alleged abuses and human rights violations in the region. Some of its findings have been disputed, particularly over the sources of information and the methods used to gather evidence.
The organization has previously accused AFC/M23 of killings, torture and enforced disappearances in areas under its control. AFC/M23 has rejected such allegations in previous cases, describing the reports as unfounded and false.
