Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) say two mass graves have been uncovered near the eastern city of Uvira, an area that was until recently under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group.
The governor of South Kivu Province confirmed that at least 171 bodies have so far been recovered. Local authorities believe the death toll could rise as investigations continue.
According to provincial officials, preliminary information suggests that some of the victims may have been targeted on suspicion of supporting the national army or pro-government militias. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
The M23 group has yet to comment on the allegations. Both the DRC armed forces and rebel factions operating in the region have previously faced accusations of extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses.
The discovery comes months after the Rwandan-backed rebels briefly seized Uvira, near the border with Burundi, during a rapid offensive in December that reportedly left more than 1 000 people dead and displaced around 250 000 others.
The rebels later withdrew from parts of the area amid mounting international pressure, following a deal brokered by Washington between Rwanda and the DRC aimed at easing tensions and restoring stability.
–ChannelAfrica–
