Mass graves with 171 bodies found in eastern DR Congo: Report

"At this stage, we have identified two sites: one mass grave containing approximately 30 bodies in Kiromoni, not far from the Burundian border on the Congolese side, and another in Kavimvira where 141 bodies were found, Purusi told AP over the phone."

"Information gathered so far indicates that the victims were killed by M23 rebels, said Yves Ramadhani, the group's vice president. The governor and the civil society group alleged that the rebels killed the individuals because they suspected them of belonging to the DRC army or a pro-government militia."

"The M23 is the most prominent of the more than 100 armed groups that are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern DRC, near the border with Rwanda. M23 has been in a tense and violent conflict with the DRC government for more than a decade."

Congolese authorities and civil society groups reported finding two mass graves in Uvira, an eastern DRC city recently seized by the M23 rebel group. The South Kivu provincial governor identified approximately 30 bodies in Kiromoni and 141 bodies in Kavimvira. Local civil society organizations claim M23 rebels perpetrated the killings, targeting individuals suspected of belonging to the DRC military or pro-government militias. The civil society group was prevented by Congolese military from accessing the sites. Both M23 and DRC forces face accusations of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses. M23 remains the most prominent among over 100 armed groups operating in mineral-rich eastern DRC near the Rwanda border, maintaining a violent conflict with the DRC government for over a decade.

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