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STORY: OHCHR / DRC M23 ATTACKS
TRT: 01:43
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 06 AUGUST 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The UN Human Rights Office condemns the escalation in deadly attacks on civilians by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in eastern DRC amid continued fighting, despite the ceasefire that was recently signed in Doha. According to first-hand accounts received by our Office, at least 319 civilians were killed by the M23, backed by members of the Rwanda Defence Force, between 9 and 21 July in four villages in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu Province. This is one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022. Most of the victims, including at least 48 women and 19 children, were local farmers camping in their fields during the planting season. We also condemn attacks against civilians by other armed actors. We have documented multiple such attacks in the North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri Provinces in July, including by the ADF and CODECO armed groups. All attacks against civilians must stop immediately, and all those responsible must be held to account. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk renews his call on all parties to the conflicts in eastern DRC to protect civilians from harm, and to uphold all their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He also urges all parties to the recently signed declaration of principles to commit to the peace process in good faith, and to act decisively to end the cycles of recurring violence.”
“The UN Human Rights Office condemns the escalation in deadly attacks on civilians by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in eastern DRC amid continued fighting, despite the ceasefire that was recently signed in Doha,” a spokesperson said.
Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, “According to first-hand accounts received by our Office, at least 319 civilians were killed by the M23, backed by members of the Rwanda Defence Force, between 9 and 21 July in four villages in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu Province. This is one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022. Most of the victims, including at least 48 women and 19 children, were local farmers camping in their fields during the planting season.”
He added, “We also condemn attacks against civilians by other armed actors. We have documented multiple such attacks in the North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri Provinces in July, including by the ADF and CODECO armed groups. All attacks against civilians must stop immediately, and all those responsible must be held to account. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk renews his call on all parties to the conflicts in eastern DRC to protect civilians from harm, and to uphold all their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He also urges all parties to the recently signed declaration of principles to commit to the peace process in good faith, and to act decisively to end the cycles of recurring violence.”
