At least 169 civilians, mostly Congolese Hutu farmers, were massacred earlier this month in an attack by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a confidential report by the United Nations Human Rights Office obtained by Reuters. The killings reportedly occurred on July 9 in the Bwito Chiefdom of Rutshuru Territory, in North Kivu province, a region that has seen a resurgence in violence as the Rwanda-backed M23 group expands its territorial grip.
According to the UN, the rebels targeted individuals they suspected of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed largely of Hutu fighters, some of whom are linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The UN called the incident one of the deadliest atrocities in recent years in the volatile Great Lakes region. Witnesses told local rights groups that M23 fighters executed villagers using knives and guns, accusing them of harboring FDLR members. The UN report also highlights that entire families were wiped out, and some bodies were reportedly dumped in mass graves.
M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa denied the allegations, calling the UN report a “smear campaign,” but said the group would investigate the claims internally. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the details of the massacre. The violence comes at a critical time as President Donald Trump—who has shown renewed interest in unlocking access to Congo’s rare earth and battery minerals—seeks to broker a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda. In June, the parties signed a preliminary agreement in Washington, requiring Kinshasa to dismantle the FDLR, while Rwandan troops begin withdrawing from eastern Congo.
That process was scheduled to begin last weekend, but no official updates have been provided, and the situation remains volatile. Both sides have committed to finalizing a peace framework by August 18, but the recent killings cast serious doubt on the timeline and the feasibility of restoring stability to one of the world’s richest yet most conflict-ridden regions.
