• Two mass graves found in South Kivu province, containing at least 171 bodies.
• The graves are believed to be victims of the M23 rebel group.
• International organizations call for investigations into the killings.

Authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced the discovery of two mass graves in South Kivu province, particularly near the city of Uvira. Local residents have reported the presence of at least 171 bodies, with 30 located in the Kiromoni area and 141 in Kavimvira. Provincial governor Jean-Jacques Purusi suggested these graves could belong to victims of the M23 rebel group, known for targeting individuals suspected of collaborating with government forces, according to aa and aljazeera.

The M23 rebel group, which controlled Uvira in December before withdrawing under international pressure, has been accused of various human rights abuses, including intimidation, forced recruitment, and killings, during its occupation. Yves Ramadhani from the Local Network for the Protection of Civilians emphasized that the victims were likely executed due to suspicions of their allegiance to the DRC military or pro-government militias, as reported by africanews and aljazeera.

Local authority reports indicate that the graves were uncovered after heavy rains caused an unpleasant odor to emanate from the sites. There have been additional reports of another grave in Sange, about 30 kilometers from Uvira, which contains 10 bodies. However, the Congolese military currently prevents access to these sites for proper investigation, per accounts from africanews and aa.