Rwanda has issued a strong rebuke to Human Rights Watch (HRW) following the release of a report that utilized satellite imagery to indicate a significant increase in the number of graves at a military cemetery in the capital, Kigali, amidst ongoing tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The report alleges that this expansion of the Kanombe military cemetery coincided with intensified conflict in eastern DRC, where the M23 armed group, which is suspected of receiving support from Rwanda, has seized control of critical urban areas including Goma and Bukavu. Since the beginning of its offensive in 2021, the M23 has faced accusations from various parties for committing human rights violations, placing the region’s already troubled history of conflict under renewed scrutiny.
Despite extensive documentation by United Nations experts and human rights organizations regarding Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23 group, the Rwandan government has consistently denied any involvement. HRW’s analysis, based on satellite data collected from Airbus and Google Earth, revealed the addition of as many as 460 new graves within the cemetery between mid-December and early July. Images shared on social media platform X by HRW further illustrate alterations to the burial site, including land clearing, road construction, and the installation of 1,171 new graves since early 2022.
While HRW estimates that approximately 1.7 new graves were added each week from 2017 to mid-2021, this figure escalated to six new graves weekly starting in 2022, peaking at an alarming rate of 22 new graves per week between mid-December and April of the following year. In stark contrast, the Rwandan government has publicly reported a soldier death toll of fewer than ten during recent clashes.
Responding to the HRW findings, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo took to X to describe the organization’s claims as “disingenuous” and “desperate for attention.” She challenged the premise of the report, questioning the legitimacy of scrutinizing Rwandan cemeteries in the context of human rights discussions.
The controversy underscores a deeper, ongoing tension in the region, characterized by complex historical grievances and a cycle of violence that has persisted for over three decades. As the conflict in the DRC continues to evolve, the implications of these latest allegations remain to be seen amidst the backdrop of regional instability.
