Kinshasa, Feb 25, (V7N) – More than 7,000 people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since January, as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group expands its control, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said Monday.

The conflict escalated after M23 fighters seized two key provincial capitals—Goma in North Kivu last month and Bukavu in South Kivu on February 16. The rebel advance has deepened instability in a region already plagued by violence for decades.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Tuluka revealed that the death toll includes more than 2,500 unidentified bodies that had to be buried in mass graves. Another 1,500 bodies remain in morgues.

While exact figures remain unverified, the United Nations (UN) had previously reported over 3,000 deaths since January 26, around the time of the M23 offensive in Goma. The Red Cross and UN humanitarian agency OCHA have been struggling to cope with the growing number of casualties.

Hospitals in Goma and Bukavu are overwhelmed, with severe shortages of medicines looming. OCHA warned that the fighting has also worsened food insecurity, heightening fears of a larger humanitarian disaster.

Although life in Bukavu is gradually returning to normal, crime rates have surged due to weapons abandoned by retreating Congolese forces, OCHA reported. Schools have reopened, but many parents remain reluctant to send their children back due to lingering security concerns.

Meanwhile, in Goma, a wave of robberies, assaults, and home invasions has fueled a climate of fear. OCHA described the security situation as “worrying,” as armed groups take advantage of the chaos.

After weeks of rapid territorial gains, M23 rebels appear to have paused their advance near Uvira, a strategic town facing Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital. Thousands of Congolese refugees have already crossed the border, prompting concerns in neighboring Burundi.

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye flew to Kinshasa on Sunday for crisis talks with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi. The two leaders reportedly discussed the “worsening situation” and sought to resolve tensions over military coordination.

Since October 2023, Burundi has deployed over 10,000 troops to aid the Congolese army under a military pact with Kinshasa. However, recent reports suggest that Burundian forces have been pulling back, despite official denials.

As the conflict continues, concerns are growing over the potential for further destabilization in the region, with fears of wider regional involvement in the ongoing crisis.

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