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📍 Geneva / Kinshasa — August 2025
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker TĂĽrk has strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence by the M23 rebel group and other armed factions in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), citing grave violations of ceasefire agreements and international humanitarian law.
🛑 Surge in Civilian Casualties
According to the UN Human Rights Office, July marked the deadliest month since M23’s resurgence in 2022, with 319 civilians killed—primarily local farmers, including women and children. Other armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO), were also implicated in widespread atrocities such as killings, destruction of property, sexual violence, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Volker TĂĽrk emphasized the urgent need for accountability and adherence to international legal standards:
“I urge the signatories and facilitators of both the Doha and Washington agreements to ensure that they quickly translate into safety, security, and real progress for civilians in the DRC, who continue to endure the devastating consequences of these conflicts.”
🤝 Peace Commitments and Regional Diplomacy
In a bid to restore stability, the DRC government and M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19, committing to finalize a peace agreement by August 18. This initiative is expected to align with the U.S.-brokered accord between the DRC and Rwanda, aimed at ending hostilities and resuming bilateral cooperation.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols explicitly prohibit violence against civilians and mandate protection for non-combatants during armed conflict.
📉 Ongoing Violations and International Response
The UN has repeatedly condemned attacks by armed non-state actors in eastern DRC, which have included hospital raids, kidnappings, sexual violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers. In May, Amnesty International reported that M23 forces committed human rights abuses in detention facilities under their control, potentially constituting war crimes.
TĂĽrk called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to prioritize the protection of civilians as a cornerstone of the peace process.
Source: Excerpts from jurist.org article by Salma Ben Mariem, Faculty of Law and Political Science of Sousse, Tunisia.
