KINSHASA – Rebels alleged to be supported by Rwanda have reportedly killed at least 80 individuals in eastern Congo in recent weeks, according to Congolese officials. This occurs amidst a Qatar-led peace effort aimed at resolving the conflict.

The military released a statement late Friday denouncing what it described as “a series of mass murders of civilians by the RDF/M23-AFC coalition” in South Kivu. This includes the killing of 80 individuals on Aug. 4 in Nyaborongo village and six civilians, among them two minors, on July 24 in Lumbishi village.

The statement further stated, “Aside from these heinous acts, M23/AFC is forcing young people, including minors, to join their unlawful group.”

This ongoing violence poses a risk to Qatar’s mediation efforts aimed at having Congo and the rebels sign a lasting peace agreement by Aug. 18. A key condition of this deal is ensuring the safety of civilians and facilitating the return of millions displaced by the conflict.

There was no immediate comment from M23.

Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief reported that M23 had killed 319 people in another region over the past month, marking one of the worst documented massacres since M23 reemerged in 2022.

According to firsthand accounts, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk indicated that the rebels, along with members of the Rwandan Defense Force, targeted four villages in North Kivu province’s Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21.

M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement “unverified and politically motivated.”

“These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions,” said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization which includes M23. “We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.”

The M23 earlier this year seized two key cities in eastern Congo, in a major escalation with the help of neighboring Rwandan forces. Congo has long been wracked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east, with more than 100 armed groups active.

The two sides on July 19 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents.