At least 80 civilians have lost their lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks due to attacks by rebels supported by Rwanda, according to Congolese officials, despite ongoing peace efforts mediated by Qatar aimed at stopping the violence.
Eastern Congo has endured decades of conflict, with tensions rising earlier this year when the M23 insurgent group, backed by Rwandan forces, seized control of two significant cities. The area is still home to over 100 armed groups vying for dominance over its extensive mineral resources.
The ongoing violence jeopardizes the prospects of finalizing a lasting peace agreement by August 18. A crucial aspect of the deal is to ensure the safety of civilians and facilitate the return of millions who have been displaced by the conflict.
In a statement released late Friday, the Congolese army denounced what it referred to as “a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu.” It reported that 80 individuals were killed on August 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, while six others, including two minors, were slain on July 24 in Lumbishi.
The army attributed the violence to the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which comprises the rebel groups M23 and AFC, both supported by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).
“In addition to this extreme criminality, the M23/AFC is involved in the forced recruitment of young individuals, including minors, to join their unlawful organization,” the statement indicated.
There was no immediate response from M23. When approached for a comment, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press that he could not respond to “any nonsense coming from DRC,” referring to the Democratic Republic of Congo by its acronym.
Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief reported that M23 had killed 319 individuals in a different area of the region over the past month, characterizing the death toll as one of the highest documented from such attacks since the M23 rebels re-emerged in 2022.
Citing direct testimonies, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk stated that the rebels, supported by members of the Rwandan Defense Force, attacked four villages in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province between July 9 and July 21.
M23 refuted the allegations, labeling the U.N. statement as “unverified and politically motivated.”
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, which encompasses M23, remarked, “These allegations represent a clear distortion of the facts, a breach of fundamental principles of impartiality, and a significant assault on the credibility of U.N. institutions. We urge the initiation of an independent investigation and express hope that the organizations responsible for this report will be involved in it.”
On July 19, both parties signed a declaration of principles in Qatar aimed at ceasing hostilities and committing to a comprehensive peace agreement that would entail the reinstatement of state authorities in crucial eastern cities currently under insurgent control.
