The DR Congo government says over 300 civilians were killed in M23-controlled areas during June and July, alleging summary executions, massacres, bombings, rape, torture, kidnappings and forced recruitment. The accusations come despite recent progress in peace negotiations under the Qatar-mediated Doha framework.
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has said that more than 300 people were killed in summary executions, massacres and bombings in areas controlled by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group during June and July.
In a statement issued on Monday, the DRC Ministry of Communication and Media strongly condemned what it described as serious crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against civilians living in territories under M23 control.
According to the government, the alleged violence involved more than 300 deaths over the two-month period. Authorities also reported hundreds of cases of rape, more than 300 cases of torture, including alleged abuse of students, as well as hundreds of kidnappings and incidents of forced recruitment.
The government accused the M23 of carrying out widespread abuses in eastern parts of the country where the rebel movement has established control following intensified military operations.
Besides allegations of killings and other forms of violence, the statement accused the M23 of imposing illegal levies in the education and health sectors. The government also alleged that property had been looted and homes deliberately set on fire in areas under rebel control, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Kinshasa said the alleged actions represented serious violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government further argued that such developments threaten ongoing efforts aimed at finding a political and peaceful solution to the long-running conflict in the country’s eastern provinces.
The latest accusations come at a sensitive time, as the DRC government and the M23 have recently reported progress in negotiations being held under the Doha peace process.
Just two days before the government issued its latest statement, representatives of the DRC and the M23 announced advances in their efforts to move forward with the peace talks. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the two sides said they had agreed on a roadmap that outlines sequenced steps and timelines for future negotiations under the Doha framework agreement.
The two sides also agreed to establish a mechanism for reviewing progress and addressing challenges that may arise during the implementation of their commitments. They further welcomed progress in operationalising a joint ceasefire verification mechanism, which is expected to play an important role in monitoring compliance and reducing the risk of renewed hostilities.
However, the DRC government’s latest allegations underline the fragile nature of the peace process and the continuing humanitarian concerns in areas affected by the conflict.
The M23 has intensified its offensive activities in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu since January 2025, worsening instability in a region that has faced armed conflict and displacement for decades.
The group has been at the centre of renewed fighting that has drawn international concern and increased pressure on regional and international actors to support a negotiated settlement.
Under mediation by Qatar, the DRC government and the M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha in July. The two sides later signed a framework agreement in November 2025, committing themselves to continued negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace settlement.
The Doha process is intended to provide a structured path toward reducing violence, implementing ceasefire commitments and addressing political and security issues linked to the conflict.
Despite the reported progress in negotiations, the DRC government’s allegations of killings, torture, rape, kidnappings and forced recruitment highlight the significant challenges facing efforts to establish lasting peace.
| Also Read: Cuban Ambassador highlights India’s influential role in the Global South |
As negotiations continue, attention is likely to remain focused on the implementation of ceasefire arrangements, verification mechanisms and commitments made by both sides under the Doha framework.
The latest accusations have added further urgency to international calls for the protection of civilians and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in conflict-affected areas of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
