At least 319 civilians, including 48 women and 19 children, were killed by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in July, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.
Turk described the violence in North Kivu’s Rutshuru territory as one of the deadliest episodes since the rebel group’s resurgence in 2022, citing first-hand accounts of attacks that also affected South Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Also Read: DR Congo and M23 Rebels Agree to Ceasefire Amid Peace Talks
The killings occurred weeks after the Congolese government and M23 signed a ceasefire-9 agreement in Doha on June 19, reaffirming their commitment to peace and pledging to refrain from hate propaganda or further territorial seizures.
Despite a separate Washington agreement between DRC and Rwanda, and upcoming talks between Presidents Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi, little progress has been made in halting the conflict that has plagued the mineral-rich region for over three decades.
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