DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Rwanda-backed rebels killed at least 140 people in farming communities in eastern Congo in July, Human Rights Watch said in a report Wednesday, describing the killings as “summary executions.”
The group said 141 people, predominantly ethnic Hutus, were feared dead or missing after the attacks near Virunga National Park in North Kivu province, citing local experts and witness accounts.
It said the killings appeared to be part of a military campaign by the M23 group, the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups in mineral-rich eastern Congo, against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a mostly Hutu armed group.
Nearly 2 million Hutus from Rwanda fled to Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed 800,000 Tutsi, moderate Hutus and others. Rwandan authorities have accused Hutus who fled of participating in the genocide, alleging that the Congolese army protected them.
The United States and others have been trying to achieve a permanent ceasefire since fighting between the M23 and Congolese forces escalated in January with the M23's seizure of two key cities. U.S. President Donald Trump this week asserted he had “ended six wars” including this one, but experts say his impact isn’t as clear cut as he claims.
The U.N. has called the decades-old conflict in eastern Congo “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”
The Human Rights Watch report says the Rwanda Defense Force was involved in the M23 operations it describes, citing U.N. and military sources and witness accounts. There was no immediate comment from the Rwandan government.
“The M23 armed group, which has Rwandan government backing, attacked over a dozen villages and farming areas in July and committed dozens of summary executions of primarily Hutu civilians,” said Clementine de Montjoye, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Witnesses said M23 soldiers, accompanied by Rwandan soldiers who were identified by their accents, told them to “immediately bury the bodies in the fields or leave them unburied, preventing families from organizing funerals,” the report said.
One woman described being marched in a group to a riverbank near the town of Kafuru. The group of around 70 people was lined up before the soldiers began shooting at them. Forty-seven of the dead, including children, were identified, the report added.
Willy Ngoma, military spokesperson for M23, called the report “military propaganda.”
M23 was previously accused of extrajudicial killings during its seizure of major cities earlier this year.
A separate report by Amnesty International on Wednesday said the rights group found that both M23 and Congolese government-sponsored militias regularly committed mass atrocities and sexual violence against civilians, including gang rape.
“Rwanda and (Congo) cannot continue shunning responsibility; they must hold all perpetrators accountable,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa.
FILE - Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, file)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's latest reboot is off to a flying start.
In Michael Carrick's first game as coach United pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday and lifted the gloom hanging over Old Trafford.
“It’s a great start, there’s no getting away from that,” Carrick said.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed victory in the 198th Manchester derby.
The job now is to keep the good times going.
“That’s the challenge ultimately, and I think it needs to be a version of normal,” said Carrick, who was appointed the coach this week.
The former United midfielder is contracted only to the end of the season and has 17 games to convince the club hierarchy to give him the job on a permanent basis after Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
He could not have made a better first impression as United dominated all-conquering City. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged it.
“The better team won,” Guardiola said. “When a team is better you have to accept it. They had an energy we didn’t have. Congratulations.”
United was fifth in the standings, one point behind defending champion Liverpool, which extended its winless run to four games after drawing with relegation-fighting Burnley 1-1 at Anfield.
Chelsea was sixth after beating Brentford 2-0.
Watching over Carrick's first game with a beaming smile was Ferguson. He was not alone in enjoying the game after so many dark days for the club since he departed.
Winning had United fans singing in full voice inside Old Trafford and drowning out City's.
“The supporters were incredible and I said yesterday that this could be a magical place,” Carrick said. “To get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully it’s just the start.”
The result could have been more emphatic as United twice hit the goal frame and had three goals ruled out for offside.
United claimed city bragging rights and boosted its chances of Champions League qualification, and dealt another blow to City's title challenge. City's recent winless run was extended to four games.
Mbeumo fired low into the far corner at the end of a swift United break to open the scoring in the 65th minute. It was the least Carrick’s team deserved in a performance full of attacking intent.
Dorgu doubled the lead in the 76th, converting from close range after beating Rico Lewis to substitute Matheus Cunha’s cross.
Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo had chances fly off the woodwork in each half and further celebrations were cut short in the 89th when VAR ruled Mason Mount's goal offside. It mattered little by that stage.
Liverpool is still waiting for its first league win of 2026 after being held at home by second-to-last Burnley.
While Florian Wirtz's impressive recent run continued with his fourth goal in six games, it wasn't enough as Marcus Edwards equalized in the second half.
West Ham also boosted it's chances of avoiding the drop after beating Tottenham 2-1. Callum Wilson got the decisive goal in the third minute of added time. It ended West Ham's 10-game winless run and made it back-to-back victories for Nuno Espirito Santo's team after beating QPR in the FA Cup last week.
Liam Rosenior took charge of his first league game as Chelsea coach and watched his team beat high-flying Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, from the penalty spot, scored in each half to end Brentford's five-game unbeaten run. Chelsea also leapfrogged its London rival to sixth in the standings.
Leeds is going from strength to strength. Lukas Nmecha's goal in added time secured a 1-0 win against Fulham. The newly promoted team has lost just one of its last nine games in the league and one of 10 in all competitions.
A day after manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, he watched his team lose at Sunderland 2-1.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Brentford in London, Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot enters to the pitch prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Burnley in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick, centre, arrives ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola walks during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick celebrates during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
