Congo reports that this year’s rebel insurgency in the east has resulted in more than 7,000 fatalities.

KINSHASA, Congo — This year, over 7,000 individuals have lost their lives as M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, have seized extensive areas in the mineral-rich eastern part of Congo, as reported by the prime minister on Monday.

Judith Suminwa Tuluka addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council, emphasizing that the safety and humanitarian conditions in the region have spiraled to perilous levels.

The intensity of the conflict has surged in recent weeks, with M23 capturing the significant city of Goma in January, followed by Bukavu, another provincial capital, shortly thereafter. M23 is currently the most formidable among approximately 100 armed factions competing for control in eastern Congo, a region rich in untapped mineral resources valued at trillions of dollars and vital to global technology.

The United Nations has raised alarms about a broader threat emerging in the region, which has faced persistent conflict for decades, resulting in the displacement of millions.

The M23 rebels have expressed ambitions to overthrow the government of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who has historically struggled to maintain authority in the eastern provinces. Despite calls for a ceasefire, the rebels continue to advance their territorial ambitions, with support from around 4,000 troops dispatched by neighboring Rwanda, located just a short distance from Goma.

Leaders of the M23 have pledged to “cleanse” urban areas of what they perceive as harmful governance and insecurity. Their offensive now threatens the city of Uriva, where reports of gunfire emerged over the weekend.

The M23 claims to be defending the rights of ethnic Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent against discrimination and aims to transform Congo from a failing state into a prosperous nation.

However, analysts suggest that these justifications are simply pretexts for enhanced Rwandan intervention.

In Goma, eyewitnesses have reported that the M23’s intelligence faction is actively seeking out former Congolese soldiers and criminals. Unfortunately, there have been instances of misidentification; it was reported that on Sunday, 11 young individuals were killed while waiting for a weightlifting class, mistakenly categorized as thieves.