Makobola, a territory located approximately 21 kilometers from Uvira in eastern DRC, has become the latest site of grave human rights violations following the withdrawal of AFC/M23 forces from Uvira and its surrounding areas.
According to local reports and testimonies from residents, units of the Congolese army FARDC, accompanied by Wazalendo militias, entered Makobola and committed crimes amounting to crimes against humanity.
On the night of December 30, several women and young girls were reportedly subjected to brutal sexual violence. At least 27 women, including six pregnant women, were raped during the operation carried out by the regime’s armed forces- FARDC soldiers and their allied militias. These acts have left deep physical and psychological scars on victims and have further traumatized an already vulnerable population.
Sexual violence has long been used as a weapon of war in eastern DRC. The events in Makobola follow this tragic pattern, raising serious concerns about civilian protection and accountability.
In addition to the sexual violence, the same forces are accused of looting Makobola Hospital. Medical supplies and essential equipment were stolen, further crippling healthcare services for a population already suffering from conflict and displacement.
Despite the gravity of these allegations, there has been no official response from the Kinshasa regime. No condemning statement has been issued, and no investigation has been announced. The international chancelleries have also remained largely silent, and there has been no visible humanitarian assistance directed to the victims.
Local observers note that this silence contrasts sharply with responses to abuses committed by other armed groups, suggesting selective outrage and a troubling lack of accountability when violations are attributed to state forces and their allies.
Residents of Makobola and Uvira compare the situation before and after the change in control. “AFC/M23 spent a week here. We did not hear of a single case of murder or theft. FARDC entered, and everything turned into total disorder,” one local testimony states.
AFC/M23 withdrew from Uvira and the surrounding areas in response to demands from international mediators. Following their withdrawal, FARDC and allied militias moved in, and the abuses began.
Observers argue that the Kinshasa regime is determined to recapture Uvira before the New Year in order to declare a military victory. This push, undermines ongoing American and Qatari mediation efforts aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis in eastern DRC
Silence in the face of such allegations risks normalizing atrocities and abandoning victims to impunity. The people of Makobola and eastern DRC as a whole deserve protection, justice, and an end to the cycle of violence.