M23 Accuses Congo Government of Killings | DRC Conflict Update

July 15, 2025

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Soldiers in Eastern Congo as M23 accuses Congo of mass killings — Conflict in Eastern DRC continues as M23 accuses Congo of mass killings

M23 Accuses Congo of Mass Killings in Eastern DRC

M23 accuses Congo of mass killings in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying the government is responsible for repeated attacks on civilians. The rebel group claims that the victims are mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group and Kinyarwanda-speaking communities. These new accusations have increased tensions in the region and raised concerns among human rights organizations.

Image suggestion: Soldiers patrolling in Eastern Congo with civilians in the background
Image alt text: Soldiers in Eastern DRC as M23 accuses Congo of mass killings

M23 Accuses Congo of Mass Killings Against Civilians

M23 Says Ethnic Groups Are Being Targeted in Eastern DRC

Lawrence Kanyuka, M23’s spokesperson, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Congolese army is carrying out attacks on civilians. He says the government is deliberately killing people who speak Kinyarwanda and are part of the Tutsi community.

He also claimed that Congo’s army is gathering heavy weapons near M23 camps. Kanyuka warned this shows a direct plan to attack both rebel fighters and innocent civilians.

This month marks the second time M23 accuses Congo of mass killings, raising fears among human rights defenders.

M23 Reports Four Killed in Cirunga Village

On July 12, 2025, M23 reported that Congolese soldiers killed four civilians in Cirunga village, Kabare Territory. Kanyuka stated that this proves the government is ignoring the peace process.

“These killings are evidence that the Congo government has bad intentions,” said Kanyuka. “They are ignoring peace talks and continuing their attacks.”

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also raised concerns over these alleged crimes.

M23 Accuses Congo of Violating Doha Peace Talks

M23 Says Mass Killings Continue Despite Negotiations

The rebel group had agreed to restart peace talks in Doha, Qatar, to end the ongoing violence. But M23 accuses Congo of mass killings even while negotiations were taking place.

Benjamin Mbonimpa, who led M23’s delegation in Doha, said the Congolese government is not acting in good faith.

“Kinshasa keeps blaming Rwanda,” Mbonimpa said. “But our problem is with the Congo government, not Rwanda. They must stop the violence and commit to real talks.”

Read more about Doha’s role in regional peace talks from trusted sources like Al Jazeera.

M23 Accuses Congo of Using Foreign Mercenaries

Rebel Group Says Congo Rejects Peace by Hiring Fighters

Mbonimpa also accused the Congolese government of hiring foreign mercenaries to continue the conflict. He said this shows Congo prefers war over peaceful resolution.

Since the talks began in March 2025, only two progress points were made:

M23 withdrew from the town of Walikale
Both parties agreed on a temporary ceasefire

Despite these steps, M23 accuses Congo of mass killings, saying the military continues violent operations.

M23 Ends Talks After Congo Refuses Prisoner Release

700 Prisoners Still Detained, M23 Says

In early June 2025, M23 walked out of the Doha peace talks. The reason: the Congolese government refused to release 700 prisoners, including M23 members and their alleged supporters.

M23 stated this refusal violates previous agreements and proves that the government is not committed to peace. This incident further strengthens their claim, as once again M23 accuses Congo of mass killings and political betrayal.

Why the M23 Accusations Matter in the Congo Crisis

The fact that M23 accuses Congo of mass killings reflects a deeper humanitarian crisis. Eastern DRC has seen thousands displaced and dozens killed in recent months.

International groups like UNHCR, HRW, and Amnesty have urged Congo to protect civilians and stop ethnic violence.

Still, the Congolese government denies the allegations and says its military only targets armed rebels.