Kigali, 22 August 2025

The Government of Rwanda firmly rejects the findings of Human Rights Watch, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), alleging mass killing of civilians in Binza, Rutshuru Territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo by “M23 supported by the Rwanda Defence Force”.

The sensational accusations of Human Rights Watch, just like those of UNJHRO and OHCHR, have no basis in fact and lack any evidence. Human Rights Watch itself admits that it did not independently verify the alleged killings of Hutu civilians over a period of almost two weeks.

These salacious claims, which raise more questions than answers, are not the result of any credible investigation, rather they have been hastily released through leaks to media in an attempt to entrench a pre-determined narrative. Only an independent investigation will shed light on these allegations.

Human Rights Watch has a long history of implausible claims against Rwanda, often at moments of political significance, currently when parties to the conflict in the DRC are preparing to go back to negotiations, and in the midst of implementing decisions of the 27 June 2025 Peace Agreement, including the neutralization of the DRC-backed FDLR genocidal militia, the main source of conflict, violence and abuses in eastern DRC.

Despite the lack of good faith and obstuctionist attitude of these non-state actors, Rwanda remains focused on working towards a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Great Lakes region, including through the Washington DC Peace Agreement and support of the Doha process.

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