The United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) condemned on Saturday a "wave of deadly attacks targeting civilians" in the eastern provinces of the country, where a myriad of armed groups are active, in a statement.

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by conflict for more than 30 years, and by the resurgence since 2021 of the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, which has seized vast swathes of territory in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu (east) and Ituri (northeast).

The DRC and Rwanda endorsed a fragile peace agreement in December under the auspices of Washington, which did not end the fighting, but the front lines stabilized.

North of the M23 area of activity, ADF rebels, linked to the jihadist group Islamic State, have been regularly committing mass killings for several years.

"Dozens of civilians have been killed in recent days" in several localities in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu (east), MONUSCO said, without providing further details on the circumstances and the toll of these attacks.

At least 36 people have been killed since Tuesday in several attacks by ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels in Ituri and North Kivu, AFP learned on Thursday.

MONUSCO "also notes with grave concern reports of airstrikes and bombings that allegedly took place on May 8, 2026 in the Kilolirwe and Mushaki areas of North Kivu, which reportedly caused civilian casualties," according to the statement.

M23 officials on Friday accused the army of carrying out a deadly drone strike in Mushaki, but AFP was unable to confirm these accusations with independent sources.

The M23 has established a parallel administration in the areas under its control and silenced dissenting voices, particularly in the media and civil society organizations, according to UN experts and investigations by international NGOs.

AFP