More than 300 people were killed in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo controlled by M23 rebels during June and July, with the government accusing the group of carrying out killings and other serious abuses against civilians.
The allegations are contained in a statement from the Ministry of Communication and Media, which said civilians in M23-held territories had been subjected to summary executions, massacres and bombings.
The government described the reported abuses as "crimes and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed against civilians" and accused M23 of continuing actions that have worsened the situation in areas under its control.
The statement also listed hundreds of reported rape cases and more than 300 incidents of torture. Students were among those allegedly subjected to torture, according to the government.
Hundreds of people have also reportedly been kidnapped, while others have been forcibly recruited, the government said.
Beyond the attacks on civilians, authorities accused M23 of introducing illegal charges in the education and health sectors. The group was also accused of taking people's property and destroying family homes in areas it controls.
"These acts violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DR Congo and run counter to ongoing peace efforts, including the Doha process," the statement said.
The latest allegations come at a sensitive point in efforts to end the fighting, emerging only two days after the DRC government and M23 announced a step forward in their peace negotiations.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, the two sides said they had agreed to a roadmap that outlines the order of steps to be taken and sets timelines for negotiations under the Doha framework agreement.
The agreement also provides for a mechanism that will assess how the talks are progressing and help deal with difficulties encountered as the parties implement their commitments.
The government and M23 further welcomed progress in putting into effect a joint mechanism to verify compliance with the ceasefire.
The developments come as fighting in eastern DRC remains a major challenge to efforts to secure a lasting settlement. Since January 2025, M23 has stepped up its military operations in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The rebels have continued to hold territory in the two provinces as negotiations aimed at ending the conflict move forward.
Qatar has been mediating the talks between the DRC government and M23, with both sides committing themselves to a negotiated settlement.
In July, the two parties signed a declaration of principles in Doha, setting out their commitment to continue discussions towards a broad peace deal.
The declaration followed a framework agreement signed in November 2025, which also provided for continued negotiations between the government and M23.
The newly agreed roadmap is expected to provide a clearer path for the negotiations by setting out the stages and timelines for the process, while the review mechanism is intended to track progress and help address problems that could affect implementation.