At least 140 people have been reported killed by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as per a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). This devastating event marks one of the most severe attacks by the group since their resurgence in 2021, coinciding with ongoing peace talks facilitated by the U.S. and Qatar.
Witness accounts describe harrowing scenes where rebels allegedly executed local inhabitants, including women and children predominantly from the Hutu ethnic group, in the Rutshuru area near Virunga National Park. Witnesses indicated that the M23 fighters surrounded villages, executing attacks with machetes and gunfire, severely limiting residents' ability to escape.
The violence appears linked to the M23's conflict with the FDLR, an armed group comprised of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide. HRW has documented additional killings, estimating the total in July could exceed 300. Despite previous denials from M23 regarding their involvement in these incidents, calls for accountability and sanctions are intensifying from international organizations.
Ongoing fighting, coupled with a ceasefire agreement signed last month, does not appear to have resolved tensions, as M23 is accused of violating this agreement. Despite attempts at diplomacy, the situation remains dire for many in this mineral-rich but conflict-ridden region of DRC, exacerbating humanitarian crises as civilians continue to bear the brunt of ongoing violence.
