A deadly attack by M23 rebels on civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this month has left at least 169 people dead, according to an exclusive report by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), raising fears that escalating violence may derail a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aimed at stabilizing the mineral-rich region.
The attack, which occurred on July 9 in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province, targeted farmers and suspected members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia with links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Victims, primarily Congolese Hutu farmers, were temporarily camped in their fields for the ploughing season when M23 fighters allegedly used guns and machetes to kill them.
“The human toll has been particularly high: at least 169 people have been killed,” the UNJHRO said in its findings shared with Reuters. “The victims were far from any immediate support or protection.” The office cited credible information from several independent sources, though Reuters has not independently verified the death toll.
Local activists in Rutshuru, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, reported that over 100 civilians were slaughtered after returning to their homes under assurances of safety from M23. The attack marks one of the deadliest incidents in the region since M23’s resurgence.
Bertrand Bisimwa, the political leader of M23, rejected the allegations, calling them potentially part of a “smear campaign” orchestrated by Congolese staff within the UN office. He confirmed the group had received a letter detailing the accusations and pledged to form an internal commission to investigate.
“We believe that before imposing sanctions, the facts must first be established by verifying their actual existence through an investigation,” Bisimwa said. He criticized the UNJHRO for allegedly rushing to publish unverified information, calling it propaganda.
M23, a predominantly Tutsi rebel group, has been accused of committing numerous atrocities since re-emerging as a major force in eastern Congo in 2022. Despite international pressure and military efforts by Congolese forces, the rebels have seized more territory than ever before this year, displacing hundreds of thousands and causing thousands of deaths.
The revelations come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration pushes for a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, seen as a precondition for unlocking billions of dollars in U.S.-led mineral investments in the Great Lakes region. The deal, signed in Washington on June 27, requires Congo to neutralize the FDLR while Rwanda withdraws its forces and support for the M23.
Both sides were expected to begin implementing the agreement last Sunday, with a three-month window to complete their obligations. However, the Rutshuru killings have cast serious doubt on the feasibility and sincerity of that peace process.
“This attack proves M23 is not a force for peace, but a destabilizing actor incapable of guaranteeing security,” Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told Reuters. He emphasized that Kinshasa seeks a lasting peace that restores Congolese sovereignty in the east.
Rwanda has long denied supporting M23, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. A recent report by U.N. experts concluded that Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 and is backing the group to expand its strategic foothold in eastern Congo.
Yolande Makolo, a Rwandan government spokesperson, previously dismissed the U.N. expert report as misrepresenting Rwanda’s legitimate security concerns regarding the FDLR. She did not respond to requests for comment on the latest UNJHRO findings.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said last month that M23, Congolese forces, and allied militias have all committed abuses in the region, many of which may amount to war crimes.
Eastern Congo remains one of the world’s most volatile regions despite being rich in critical minerals like gold, cobalt, coltan, tungsten, and tin. The persistent violence threatens the stability necessary for U.S. and global tech supply chains increasingly reliant on Congolese resources.
For now, the Rutshuru massacre stands as a grim reminder of the human cost of unresolved tensions and the long road ahead for any lasting peace in the Great Lakes region. As the August 18 peace deadline looms, the international community watches with growing unease.
Written By Rodney Mbua
