DR Congo Condemns Massacre of Over 300 Civilians Despite Ceasefire Agreement

The Democratic Republic of Congo has condemned the killing of over 300 civilians in North Kivu in July, allegedly by M23 rebels, despite a ceasefire agreement. The government vowed to seek justice, calling the attack a violation of the Qatar-mediated peace deal. M23 accused the army of ceasefire breaches, while Rwanda again denied supporting the rebels.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has issued a strong condemnation of the massacre that took place last month in the country’s eastern region, where more than 300 civilians were allegedly killed by M23 rebels despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement signed in Doha.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, which cited firsthand accounts, at least 319 civilians lost their lives in a series of attacks on four villages in North Kivu province in July. In a statement released on Thursday, the Communication Ministry described the incident as “one of the heaviest tolls recorded since the resurgence of the M23 rebel group,” drawing a tragic parallel to the Kishishe massacre of November 2022.

The government’s statement, backed by findings from the UN Human Rights Office, confirmed that most of the victims — including numerous women and children — were defenceless civilians. Many were summarily executed in their villages or fields, underscoring the brutality of the attacks.

Offering condolences to the bereaved families, the government extended assurances of unwavering solidarity to the wounded and survivors. It pledged to honour the victims’ memory by relentlessly pursuing the truth and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.

This violence comes in the wake of the July 19 signing of a declaration of principles in Doha between the Congolese government and a coalition of rebel groups, including the M23. That agreement followed a June 27 peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, brokered in Washington, which committed the parties to a permanent ceasefire.

Kinshasa has condemned the killings as a “flagrant violation” of the Qatar-mediated commitments aimed at ending hostilities in eastern Congo. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stressed, “No peace process can prosper in silence in the face of horror.”

For its part, the M23 on Thursday accused the DRC’s military of repeatedly violating the ceasefire ahead of the next round of peace talks. Meanwhile, the UN, Kinshasa, and other actors have continued to accuse neighbouring Rwanda of providing support to the M23 — allegations that Kigali has consistently denied.