Congo government says 272 civilians killed in recent conflict

On December 5, 2022, Congolese activists light candles on their national flag in a vigil in the memory of the civilians killed in the recent conflict between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo FARDC and rebel forces in Goma, the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. ARLETTE BASHIZI REUTERS KINSHASA - Democratic Republic of Congo's government said on Monday 272 civilians were killed in a massacre in the eastern town of Kishishe last week, raising the death toll from a previous estimate of 50.

The killings of the M 23 rebel group denied responsibility, according to the government. The rebels were backed by members of the Rwandan army, a frequent accusation by the Congolese government that Rwanda has denied.

Rwandan authorities could not be reached for comment.

The M 23, a Tutsi-led militia, and the army of Congo have been locked in fighting for months in the country's east.

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The alleged massacre took place on 29 November in Kishishe, North Kivu province. The death toll was announced by Congolese industry minister Julien Paluku, speaking at a press conference with government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.

Congolese activists attended a vigil in memory of civilians killed in the recent conflict between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo FARDC and rebel forces in Goma, the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on December 5, 2022. ARLETTE BASHIZI REUTERS I can't give details of the attack. The attorney general has opened an investigation and we are waiting for the results of the investigators, said Muyaya.

He said that children were killed in an Adventist church and a hospital.

The United Nations said last week it had received reports of a high number of civilian casualties during clashes between M 23 and local militias in Kishishe but did not give figures.

In its own account of the events, the M 23 said 21 fighters were killed from an enemy coalition, and eight civilians were killed by stray bullets.

A group of UN experts said this year it had solid evidence that Rwandan troops were fighting alongside M 23 and providing them with weapons and support, which Rwanda denied.

The leaders of Rwanda and Congo have met several times to try to solve the crisis, including recently in Luanda where they agreed on a ceasefire. The fighting has continued since.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday he had had a productive conversation with Rwandan President Paul Kagame about the need for peace and security in eastern DRC.

The United States urges Rwanda to honor its commitments to Luanda, including ending Rwanda's support for M23, according to Blinken on Twitter.

Rwanda's foreign minister Vincent Biruta said that differences in understanding of the issue remain M 23 and should not be equated to Rwanda. He said it was not Rwanda's problem to solve.