At least 114 civilians were killed and 17 others abducted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in June, according to a report by the Kivu Security Tracker.
The security monitoring group recorded 247 incidents across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces during the month, down from 305 incidents in May.
The M23 rebel group was identified as the main perpetrator of abuses against civilians, particularly during offensives in North Kivu’s Masisi and Rutshuru territories.
Civilians suspected of supporting the pro-government Wazalendo militia were reportedly targeted during the operations.
The tracker said at least 48 bodies were discovered in Bibwe, in Masisi territory, following M23 operations.
A total of 115 armed clashes were documented in June, with the M23 involved in 46 of them, representing nearly 40 percent of the recorded fighting.
The Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, also remained a major threat to civilians in eastern Congo. The group was blamed for 62 deaths and 57 abductions during the month.
Eastern Congo has endured decades of conflict involving rebel groups, local militias and regional forces, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
Around 7 million people are currently displaced across the country, according to the United Nations.