At least 319 civilians, including 48 women and 19 children, were killed last month in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by M23 rebels, according to the United Nations, which has accused Rwanda of backing the group.
Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said on Wednesday that investigators had received “first-hand accounts” of the attacks, which he described as “one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022.”
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The killings occurred in Rutshuru territory in North Kivu Province, a mineral-rich area where violence has displaced millions and persisted for decades.
Despite a ceasefire agreement signed on 19 June between the Congolese government and M23 rebels, clashes have continued, drawing sharp criticism from the UN.
“I am appalled by the attacks on civilians by the M23 and other armed groups in eastern DRC amid continued fighting, despite the ceasefire that was recently signed in Doha,” Turk said in a statement.
“All attacks against civilians must stop immediately, and all those responsible must be held to account.”
fighting spreads despite peace deals
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Turk’s office documented ongoing violence in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces — all located in the DRC’s volatile eastern region, which borders Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
The renewed fighting has cast doubt on the effectiveness of recent peace initiatives. The Doha agreement, brokered in June, aimed to halt hostilities, ban hate speech and prevent either side from seizing new territory. It also included a roadmap for restoring state control and opening direct negotiations for a broader peace settlement.
Yet just weeks later, the latest wave of killings suggests the truce is already in tatters.
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Washington deal adds pressure — but no results yet
The Doha deal was backed by a second agreement signed in Washington between the DRC and Rwanda — a pair of long-time rivals with a troubled history of cross-border conflict and mistrust.
That US-brokered framework includes provisions for economic cooperation and political dialogue, and is expected to lead to direct talks between Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi. But so far, little of the agreement has been implemented.
“I urge the signatories and facilitators of both the Doha and Washington agreements to ensure that they rapidly translate into safety, security and real progress for civilians in the DRC,” Turk said.
m23: a regional flashpoint
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The March 23 Movement, or M23, first emerged in 2012 before being pushed out of the region by government and UN forces. The rebel group resurfaced in 2021 and has since captured swathes of territory, with the UN repeatedly accusing Rwanda of backing its resurgence — a charge Kigali denies.
The renewed insurgency has plunged eastern Congo into further chaos, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation. Armed groups have long exploited the region’s vast mineral wealth, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict that has defied years of international mediation.
As regional and global actors push for a breakthrough, many Congolese remain sceptical — caught between peace promises and the brutal realities on the ground.
