Congo Says 1,500 Killed As M23 Rebels Intensify Attacks In East

The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of fueling deadly violence in its eastern region, claiming more than 1,500 civilians have been killed since early December during a renewed offensive by the M23 militia.

In a statement on Wednesday, Congolese authorities said the toll, compiled by civil society groups and verified by humanitarian and state agencies, followed fresh attacks in South Kivu. The government described the violence as an act of aggression against its sovereignty and a repeated breach of international law.

M23 fighters seized the strategic city of Uvira last month, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee into Burundi. The offensive began shortly after Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace deal on December 4.

Kinshasa also accused Kigali of deploying three additional battalions into South Kivu, allegedly to advance toward the mineral-rich Tanganyika province. The United Nations estimates that the latest fighting has displaced about 500,000 people in the region.