An M23 rebel attack on farmers and other civilians in east Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) killed 169 people earlier this month, a United Nations (UN) body told Reuters, in what would be one of the deadliest incidents since the Rwanda-backed group’s resurgence.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa told Reuters it would investigate but the report could be a “smear campaign”.
The UN rights body’s account has not been previously reported and emerged as United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration pushes for peace between Congo and Rwanda that it hopes will unlock billions in mineral investments.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the killings but a local activist cited witnesses as describing M23 combatants using guns and machetes to kill scores of civilians.
The M23 and Congolese government have pledged to work towards peace by August 18 after the rebels this year seized more territory than ever before in fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
According to findings by the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which monitors Congo, the M23 operation that led to the farmers’ killings began on July 9 in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province.
It targeted suspected members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Congo-based group that includes remnants of Rwanda’s former army and militias that carried out the 1994 Rwandan genocide, UNJHRO said.
“Civilians, mainly farmers temporarily camping in their fields for the ploughing season, have been attacked. The human toll has been particularly high: at least 169 people have been killed,” UNJHRO said in findings shared by Reuters.
The victims were “far from any immediate support or protection,” UNJHRO said, citing credible information from several independent sources.
Discover more from Trendz Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
