Lusaka: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Trk on Wednesday condemned the escalation in deadly attacks by the Rwandan-backed M23 and other armed groups against civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past month.
According to African Press Organization, first-hand accounts received by the UN Human Rights Office indicate that at least 319 civilians were killed by the M23, backed by members of the Rwanda Defence Force, between 9 and 21 July in four villages in the Rutshuru territory, in North Kivu Province. This is considered one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022. Most of the victims, including at least 48 women and 19 children, were local farmers camping in their fields during the planting season.
Trk expressed his deep concern over the continued violence despite a recently signed ceasefire in Doha, urging all parties to immediately halt attacks against civilians and hold those responsible accountable. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and upholding obligations under international humanitarian and human rights laws. Trk also called on all parties involved in the conflict to commit to the peace process in good faith and work towards ending the cycles of violence.
The DRC Government and the M23 group had signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on 19 July 2025, agreeing to a ceasefire and further negotiations towards a comprehensive agreement. This followed a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda signed in Washington D.C., on 27 June. However, meaningful progress on the ground remains limited, leaving affected communities in a state of deep uncertainty. Trk urged the signatories and facilitators of both the Doha and Washington agreements to ensure that these agreements translate into tangible safety and security for civilians in the DRC, who continue to suffer the devastating consequences of ongoing conflicts.