Democratic Republic of Congo’s industry minister Julien Paluku has blamed the rebel group, M23, for killing 300 people in eastern North Kivu province last week, reports AFP news agency.

The government earlier pegged the number at 100 but increased the toll count as the days went by.

“Every community has been able to record the people who died from units in Kishishe and its environs,” Paluku, who was the governor of North Kivu province from 2007 to 2019, told the reporters on Monday.

He informed that the updated numbers were collated with the help of civil society and an “organisation grouping all the communities” in the region.

“One community alone has more than 105 deaths. We are looking at around 300 deaths of people known to be regular inhabitants of Kishishe, who have nothing to do with FDLR [Hutus from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda] and no connection with the mai-mai,” a community-based militia group, he added.

He said that all the fatalities were civilians and at least 17 were believed to be children.

The insurgent group, however, has disputed the massacre accusations and said that eight civilians were killed in the village on November 29. It claimed that the civilians died due to “stray bullets”.

The M23, also known as the March 23 movement, is a Congolese Tutsi rebel military group composed of ethnic&nbsp;Tutsi. It is based in eastern areas of the DRC, mainly in North Kivu province.

After remaining dormant for years, it took up arms again in November last year and seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda in June. In October, it gain went into offensive mode after a brief period of lull.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Democratic Republic of Congo’s industry minister Julien Paluku has blamed the rebel group, M23, for killing 300 people in eastern North Kivu province last week, reports AFP news agency.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s industry minister Julien Paluku has blamed the rebel group, M23, for killing 300 people in eastern North Kivu province last week, reports AFP news agency. The government earlier pegged the number at 100 but increased the toll count as the days went by. “Every community has been able to record the people who died from units in Kishishe and its environs,” Paluku, who was the governor of North Kivu province from 2007 to 2019, told the reporters on Monday. He informed that the updated numbers were collated with the help of civil society and an “organisation grouping all the communities” in the region. “One community alone has more than 105 deaths. We are looking at around 300 deaths of people known to be regular inhabitants of Kishishe, who have nothing to do with FDLR [Hutus from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda] and no connection with the mai-mai,” a community-based militia group, he added. He said that all the fatalities were civilians and at least 17 were believed to be children. The insurgent group, however, has disputed the massacre accusations and said that eight civilians were killed in the village on November 29. It claimed that the civilians died due to “stray bullets”. The M23, also known as the March 23 movement, is a Congolese Tutsi rebel military group composed of ethnic Tutsi. It is based in eastern areas of the DRC, mainly in North Kivu province. After remaining dormant for years, it took up arms again in November last year and seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda in June. In October, it gain went into offensive mode after a brief period of lull. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

M23 rebel group responsible for massacre of 300 civilians in DR Congo, says govt

The Democratic Republic of Congo's army on Thursday accused M23 insurgents of killing 50 civilians and breaching a five-day-old truce in the country's restive east.

The ceasefire took effect in North Kivu province at the weekend following a summit between DRC and its neighbour Rwanda.

It was to have been followed by a rebel pull-out from captured territory, a withdrawal that has yet to take place.

General Sylvain Ekenge said the M23 group was "carrying out massacres... the most recent of which is that of 50 Congolese civilians, heinously murdered on Tuesday in Kishishe," a village some 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of the eastern city of Goma.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/congo-m23-rebels-demand-dialogue-after-states-declare-truce-537714">Congo: M23 rebels demand dialogue with government after African states declare ceasefire</a>

Ekenge claimed that while Congolese forces had "scrupulously observed the truce", the M23 had attacked government positions.

Sources said earlier that fighting had resumed Thursday in Kirima in the same region, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the town of Kibirizi.

Paul Lutibahwa, head of civil society groups for the Bambo region, said: "The rebels have crossed the bridge, heading for Kibirizi... there's panic".

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, accused the M23 of having breached the ceasefire and "carrying on looting and fighting".

A DRC army officer, who also asked not to be identified, said: "The fighting is heavy -- we are using heavy artillery."

The M23's military spokesman, Willy Ngoma, contacted by AFP, confirmed that there was fighting with the army.

&nbsp;

<h2>- Resurgent force -</h2>

&nbsp;

The March 23 movement, or M23, is a predominantly Congolese Tutsi rebel group that was dormant for years.

It took up arms again in November last year and seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda in June.&nbsp;

After a brief period of calm, it went on the offensive again in October, greatly extending the territory under its control and advancing towards the city of Goma.

Kinshasa accuses its smaller neighbour Rwanda of providing M23 with support, something that UN experts and US officials have also pointed to in recent months.&nbsp;

Kigali disputes the charge, and in turn accuses Kinshasa of collusion with the FDLR -- a former Rwandan Hutu rebel group established in the DRC after the genocide of the Tutsi community in 1994 in Rwanda.&nbsp;

Talks between the two countries in the Angolan capital of Luanda unlocked a truce agreement on November 23.

The ceasefire was scheduled to take effect on Friday, November 25 at 1600 GMT and be followed by a pull-out by the M23 two days later.

A parallel initiative has been undertaken by the East African Community (EAC), a seven-nation regional bloc that includes Rwanda.

It has decided to deploy a regional force to help stabilise the region, for which Kenyan troops are already deployed in Goma, and on November 28 launched peace talks, to which the M23 are not invited.

&nbsp;

<h2>- Troubled region -</h2>

&nbsp;

Until Thursday's violence, there had been no fighting between government forces and the M23, although the rebels had clashed with local militia, especially in the Bambo area, where civilian casualties were reported.

The Vatican, meanwhile, announced that Pope Francis would visit the DRC and South Sudan from January 31 to February 5.

His trip to the two violence-plagued countries had been planned for July this year but was postponed because of treatment for knee pain.

His stay in the DRC from January 31 to February 3 will take place in Kinshasa and no longer include Goma.&nbsp;

The site that had been chosen for a papal mass, located 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of Goma, is currently occupied by a forward position of the armed forces.

Scores of armed groups roam eastern DRC, making it one of Africa's most violent regions.

Many are legacies of two wars before the turn of the century that sucked in countries from the region and left millions dead.

Demonstrators protesting perceived international indifference to the crisis rallied in Goma early Thursday. Another march staged by the Catholic church took place in Bukavu, in neighbouring South Kivu province.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's army on Thursday accused M23 insurgents of killing 50 civilians and breaching a five-day-old truce in the country's restive east.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's army on Thursday accused M23 insurgents of killing 50 civilians and breaching a five-day-old truce in the country's restive east. The ceasefire took effect in North Kivu province at the weekend following a summit between DRC and its neighbour Rwanda. It was to have been followed by a rebel pull-out from captured territory, a withdrawal that has yet to take place. General Sylvain Ekenge said the M23 group was "carrying out massacres... the most recent of which is that of 50 Congolese civilians, heinously murdered on Tuesday in Kishishe," a village some 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of the eastern city of Goma. Also Read | Congo: M23 rebels demand dialogue with government after African states declare ceasefire Ekenge claimed that while Congolese forces had "scrupulously observed the truce", the M23 had attacked government positions. Sources said earlier that fighting had resumed Thursday in Kirima in the same region, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the town of Kibirizi. Paul Lutibahwa, head of civil society groups for the Bambo region, said: "The rebels have crossed the bridge, heading for Kibirizi... there's panic". A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, accused the M23 of having breached the ceasefire and "carrying on looting and fighting". A DRC army officer, who also asked not to be identified, said: "The fighting is heavy -- we are using heavy artillery." The M23's military spokesman, Willy Ngoma, contacted by AFP, confirmed that there was fighting with the army. - Resurgent force - The March 23 movement, or M23, is a predominantly Congolese Tutsi rebel group that was dormant for years. It took up arms again in November last year and seized the town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda in June. After a brief period of calm, it went on the offensive again in October, greatly extending the territory under its control and advancing towards the city of Goma. Kinshasa accuses its smaller neighbour Rwanda of providing M23 with support, something that UN experts and US officials have also pointed to in recent months. Kigali disputes the charge, and in turn accuses Kinshasa of collusion with the FDLR -- a former Rwandan Hutu rebel group established in the DRC after the genocide of the Tutsi community in 1994 in Rwanda. Talks between the two countries in the Angolan capital of Luanda unlocked a truce agreement on November 23. The ceasefire was scheduled to take effect on Friday, November 25 at 1600 GMT and be followed by a pull-out by the M23 two days later. A parallel initiative has been undertaken by the East African Community (EAC), a seven-nation regional bloc that includes Rwanda. It has decided to deploy a regional force to help stabilise the region, for which Kenyan troops are already deployed in Goma, and on November 28 launched peace talks, to which the M23 are not invited. - Troubled region - Until Thursday's violence, there had been no fighting between government forces and the M23, although the rebels had clashed with local militia, especially in the Bambo area, where civilian casualties were reported. The Vatican, meanwhile, announced that Pope Francis would visit the DRC and South Sudan from January 31 to February 5. His trip to the two violence-plagued countries had been planned for July this year but was postponed because of treatment for knee pain. His stay in the DRC from January 31 to February 3 will take place in Kinshasa and no longer include Goma. The site that had been chosen for a papal mass, located 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of Goma, is currently occupied by a forward position of the armed forces. Scores of armed groups roam eastern DRC, making it one of Africa's most violent regions. Many are legacies of two wars before the turn of the century that sucked in countries from the region and left millions dead. Demonstrators protesting perceived international indifference to the crisis rallied in Goma early Thursday. Another march staged by the Catholic church took place in Bukavu, in neighbouring South Kivu province. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

DR Congo accuses M23 rebels of civilian massacre, breaching truce

m23-kills-civilians

M23 Kills Civilians, News on M23 Kills Civilians, stories on M23 Kills Civilians, articles on M23 Kills Civilians, M23 Kills Civilians stories at Wion, M23 Kills Civilians news, M23 Kills Civilians latest news

m23 kills-civilians

M23 rebel group responsible for massacre of 300 civilians in DR Congo, says govt

DR Congo accuses M23 rebels of civilian massacre, breaching truce