UN Says M23 Rebels Killed Over 300 Civilians in Eastern DRC Last Month

UN Says M23 Rebels Killed Over 300 Civilians in Eastern DRC Last Month
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At least 319 civilians were killed by M23 rebels in a series of attacks on four villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province last month, the UN human rights office said Wednesday, as reported by Anadolu Agency. According to the UN, the killings took place between July 9 and 21 in Rutshuru territory and were among the deadliest incidents since the group’s resurgence in 2022.

Victims included at least 48 women and 19 children, many of them local farmers camping in fields during planting season. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the violence, calling for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and for those responsible to be held accountable. The violence occurred despite a ceasefire declaration signed on July 19 in Doha between the Congolese government and M23, following a Washington-mediated peace deal with Rwanda in June.

M23, accused by the UN and Kinshasa of receiving support from Rwanda — a claim Kigali denies — controls significant territory, including the capitals of Goma and Bukavu. Turk also denounced attacks by other armed groups, including the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the CODECO militia, urging protection and security for civilians.