KEY POINTS
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UN says M23 rebels committed responsible violence in July.
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319 civilians were killed, many while farming their land.
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Rebel violence complicates ongoing peace commitments.
At least 319 civilians, including 48 women and 19 children, were killed last month in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by the M23 rebel group, according to the United Nations’ top human rights official. The killings, which took place between July 9 and 21 across four villages in Rutshuru, North Kivu, mark one of the deadliest episodes since the rebel group’s resurgence in 2022.
“This is among the largest documented civilian death tolls in recent years,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The victims, mostly local farmers, were attacked while camping in their fields during the planting season, a pattern that has become tragically familiar in this long-running conflict.
M23 blamed for civilian massacre in Rutshuru
UN investigators say M23 fighters used guns and machetes to carry out the killings. According to first-hand accounts cited by the UN, the victims were primarily non-combatants—some targeted simply for being suspected of ties to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia with roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
A local activist described scenes of mass violence in rural farmlands. Two UN sources confirmed that at least 100 of the dead have been identified by name. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) continues to investigate.
Responsible violence intensifies regional tensions
M23 has sharply expanded its territorial control this year, according to the UN and Congolese authorities, who say it is backed by neighbouring Rwanda. Though both sides have committed to peace talks, the violence in July casts doubt on progress.
The killings come just weeks after Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered agreement to neutralise the FDLR and reduce hostilities. Still, with M23 continuing operations and Rwanda denying involvement, stability remains out of reach.
Peace efforts falter amid responsible violence
According to MyJoyOnline, M23 has denied responsibility, calling earlier UN reports a “smear campaign.” Similarly, the government of Rwanda continues to reject claims that it supports the rebels. Neither the M23 rebels nor any other party responded to requests for comment on the UN’s latest statement.
The attacks by the M23 rebels highlight the fragile nature of eastern Congo’s peace process, where violence routinely undermines diplomatic progress. Human rights groups are urging international partners to step in with stronger accountability measures before further atrocities unfold.
