Rebel forces allegedly supported by Rwanda have reportedly caused the deaths of over 300 civilians within the last month in Congo.
In the volatile region of eastern Congo, at least 319 civilians have been killed in a surge of attacks by the M23 rebels between July 9 and July 21, 2025[1][2]. These attacks, predominantly in North Kivu province, have targeted local farmers and civilians, despite a ceasefire agreement signed in Doha on July 19, 2025[1][2].
The M23, primarily composed of Congolese Tutsi fighters and backed by the Rwandan Defence Force, has re-emerged as a major threat in 2022 and seized key cities, including Goma, earlier in 2025[1][2][5]. The escalation involved significant military support from Rwanda, contributing to M23's rapid territorial gains in the mineral-rich eastern DRC.
In a bid to end the conflict, the Congolese government and M23 rebels signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on July 19, 2025, aiming to reach a comprehensive peace agreement by August 18, 2025[1][2][3][4]. This agreement is supposed to include the restoration of state authority in rebel-controlled areas, protection of civilians, and the safe return of displaced persons. However, continued violent attacks by M23, including massacres even after the signing of the ceasefire, threaten to derail these peace efforts[1][2][3][4].
In addition to civilian killings, reports from Congolese authorities indicate forced recruitment of youth and minors into M23 and allied factions, with violence spreading also into South Kivu province. The Congolese army condemns these acts and holds the M23-Rwanda coalition responsible for ongoing atrocities[3][4].
The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, has strongly condemned these attacks on civilians and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to preserve fragile peace negotiations[1][2]. The continuing violence could potentially threaten Qatar-led efforts to get Congo and the rebels to sign a permanent peace deal by August 18[1][2]. One of the conditions of the peace deal is the protection of civilians and the safe return of millions of people displaced by the conflict.
More than 100 armed groups have been active in the deadly conflict in eastern Congo, making the region one of the most complex and protracted conflicts in the world. The UN human rights chief described the toll as one of the largest documented in such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022[1]. The UN human rights chief's statement was based on firsthand accounts.
The situation remains volatile, with international actors, including the UN, strongly condemning attacks on civilians and calling for immediate cessation of hostilities. There was no immediate comment from M23 or the Rwandan government regarding the killings.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, July 23). M23 rebels kill 319 civilians in eastern Congo, UN says. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56088601
[2] Al Jazeera. (2025, July 20). M23 rebels and Congo sign ceasefire deal in Qatar. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/20/m23-rebels-and-congo-sign-ceasefire-deal-in-qatar
[3] Reuters. (2025, July 22). Congo army condemns M23 attacks on civilians, blames Rwanda. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-army-condemns-m23-attacks-civilians-blames-rwanda-2025-07-22/
[4] Associated Press. (2025, July 23). UN: M23 rebels kill at least 319 civilians in eastern Congo. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/africa-human-rights-rwanda-congo-eastern-africa-conflict-296e4e70c788435c1f84577d24a17a11
[5] The New Humanitarian. (2022, November 17). Rwanda's role in Congo's M23 rebel group: A timeline. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2022/11/17/Rwandas-role-Congos-M23-rebel-group-timeline
- The ongoing violent attacks by the M23 rebels, such as the recent slaughter of 319 civilians, highlight the fragility of the ceasefire agreement signed on July 19, 2025, as part of war-and-conflicts politics in eastern Congo, and threaten to derail the peace efforts aimed at ending the prolonged conflict.
- The escalation of the conflict in eastern Congo, with the M23 rebels, backed by the Rwandan Defence Force, seizing key cities and engaging in attacks on civilians, has raised concerns among international actors, who have called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians as a crucial step in achieving a permanent peace deal in the volatile region.
