Civilians Abducted, Executed in Eastern Congo's Masisi Territory, NGO Reports

The NGO Conscience féminine pour les droits et le développement (CFDD) has raised alarms about a surge in civilian abductions and executions in the Masisi territory of North Kivu. In a statement released on June 12, the organization reported that around ten people are unaccounted for after being detained by suspected members of the AFC/M23 movement over the past ten days.

Among the missing are Jérôme Maheshe and Rodrigue Bukanga, both staff members of Doctors Without Borders Belgium, who were reportedly abducted in June 2026 within Masisi territory. The human rights group expressed deep concern over the escalating security situation in the region, which is already plagued by armed violence.

Furthermore, the CFDD statement detailed the execution of eight civilians during the night of June 9 in the Bukombo group. The NGO attributes these killings to M23 rebels, noting that the victims' bodies had not yet been buried at the time of the report. Nadia Nyamushiya, the CFDD coordinator, emphasized that these incidents are not isolated, recalling the abduction of other humanitarian workers on the Mweso-Kashuga axis in March.

"CFDD-DRC calls for the involvement of all instances so that these victims fully regain their freedom and that all forms of abuse, or even coercive non-repetition measures, cease," Nyamushiya stated. The NGO urged all parties involved in the conflict to uphold civilian rights and international humanitarian law. They also called for mobilization from Congolese authorities, international organizations, and humanitarian partners to investigate these disappearances and executions. However, at the time of this report, the information had not been officially confirmed by the competent authorities.

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CFDD-DRC calls for the involvement of all instances so that these victims fully regain their freedom and that all forms of abuse, or even coercive non-repetition measures, cease.