10 Civilians Killed in Rutshuru Attack, FARDC Blames M23 Rebels

Ten civilians have been killed in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, in an attack that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) attribute to March 23 Movement (M23) rebels. According to a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the killings occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Kiseguru locality near Virunga National Park in Binza Groupement, Bwito Chiefdom.

FARDC Acting Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mark Mongba Hazukay said the victims were summarily executed, adding that several other civilians were arrested and taken to Kanyangambi Central Prison in Rutshuru Centre. He alleged that those arrested were accused by the rebels of belonging to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed Hutu group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hazukay condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of international humanitarian law, and reaffirmed the army’s commitment to protecting civilians and defending national territorial integrity. “The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo inform the national and international public that terrorists of the RDF-AFC/M23 coalition summarily executed ten civilians on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in the locality of Kiseguru, near Virunga National Park, in the Binza Groupement, Bwito Chiefdom, Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province. Several other peaceful citizens were arrested and transferred to Kanyangambi Central Prison in Rutshuru Centre on allegations that they were members of the FDLR. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo strongly condemn this new violation of international humanitarian law and reaffirm their determination to continue their mission of protecting civilian populations and defending the country’s territorial integrity,” Hazukay said.

The M23 rebels had not responded to the allegations by the time of publishing this story. This is not the first time FARDC has accused the group of killing civilians. In December 2022, the army alleged that M23 fighters killed 50 civilians in Kishishe locality in Bambo Groupement, Bwito Chiefdom, an allegation the rebels denied. The M23 currently controls large parts of North and South Kivu provinces. The group, which re-emerged in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultan Makenga, continues to clash with Congolese government forces in eastern DRC. 

The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, claims Kigali and M23 leaders have consistently denied. M23/AFC says its armed struggle is aimed at addressing corruption, discrimination, and governance failures in the DRC, and has in recent years intensified its military campaign, capturing several strategic towns and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.