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The United Nations has raised concerns over the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid a fragile ceasefire with the M23 rebels.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, there has been a brutal war going on in the DRC that dates all the way back to 2012, when the M23 rebels broke off from the Congolese army. At the time, M23 accused the government of failing to honor a peace agreement. The conflict was rooted in ethnic tensions, political power struggles, and control over the region’s vast mineral wealth, which includes trillions of dollars worth of rare earth materials such as cobalt, gold, and tin. Rwanda has been accused of backing M23 by providing military support, weapons, and logistical assistance, while allegedly profiting from the illegal export of these minerals. Despite the accusations, Rwanda denied any involvement, insisting that its actions were focused on securing its border from armed groups operating within the DRC. Throughout the war, M23 has also been accused of severe human rights abuses, including mass executions, recruitment of child soldiers, and rape, leading to mass displacements and a dire humanitarian crisis. Recently, the US brokered a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, aimed at stopping the violence.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, the United Nations released a statement condemning the murders of at least 319 civilians between July 9 and 21 in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, attributing the attacks to M23 rebels. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the violence as “one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022,” and voiced concern that the massacres occurred just days after the signing of ceasefire agreements.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, the murders took place in four villages in North Kivu’s Rutshuru territory, with eyewitness reports confirming that many of the victims were local farmers (including 48 women and 19 children) who had been camping in their fields during planting season. The attacks have raised concerns as they come in direct violation of commitments made under the Doha Declaration and the Washington peace agreement, two ceasefire frameworks supported by Qatar and the United States. Both agreements emphasized an end to hostilities, protection of civilians, and a roadmap toward a permanent peace settlement.

Türk called on all parties and mediators to act swiftly to “ensure that [the agreements] rapidly translate into safety, security and real progress for civilians in the DRC.”

There’s been no comment from M23 or Rwanda.