The Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday condemned the killing of more than 300 civilians in North Kivu last month, blaming M23 rebels for a wave of attacks carried out despite a ceasefire signed in Doha.

Citing first-hand testimony, the UN Human Rights Office said at least 319 civilians were killed across four villages in July. Kinshasa called the toll “one of the heaviest since M23’s resurgence,” evoking the Kishishe massacre of November 2022.

Government findings, corroborated by the UN rights office, indicate most victims—including women and children—were unarmed civilians summarily executed in their homes or fields, the Communication Ministry said.

The government offered condolences to families, pledged support for survivors, and vowed to pursue accountability.

The denunciation comes after the Congolese government and M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19 in Doha, following a June 27 Congo–Rwanda deal brokered in Washington.

Kinshasa labeled the latest killings a “flagrant violation” of those commitments. “No peace process can prosper in silence in the face of horror,” government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said.

M23 on Thursday accused the Congolese army of multiple ceasefire breaches ahead of the next round of talks. Kinshasa and the UN have long alleged Rwandan support for M23—an accusation Kigali denies.

The rebel group remains a central actor in the eastern conflict and holds significant territory, including key urban centers seized earlier this year.

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