In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the M23 rebels have withdrawn from areas they occupied for months in North Kivu, allowing troops from the East African Community Force to take over.
The UN has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, which recently left the Kishishe area in the Rutshuru territory, where a massacre allegedly took place at the end of November 2022. While the rebels claimed only eight people died in clashes, the UN says that nearly 170 civilians were killed, with human rights organizations estimating between 30 and 50 deaths.
Journalists were finally able to visit Kishishe independently for the first time since November, and their testimonies have confirmed that a massacre took place. Local authorities have requested investigations into the event, and while the forces of the East African community are expected to arrive soon, local chiefs are currently managing the day-to-day affairs of the area.
On November 29, 2022, the M23 rebels entered Kishishe, killing indiscriminately. Residents reported that the rebels went door-to-door, slaughtering people in their homes and even in the Adventist church where some of the population had sought refuge. The balance of casualties is still uncertain, but it is clear that a heinous massacre occurred. While the rebels have now withdrawn, the people of Kishishe are left to rebuild their lives and recover from the trauma of this brutal attack.