Of these 7,000 deaths, around 3,000 deaths were reported from the capital city of Goma, which was captured by the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23.
Since the unrest in Congo began in January 2025, around 7,000 people have been killed. Judith Suminwa, the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo laid out this death toll during a high-level meeting with the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Of these 7,000 deaths, around 3,000 deaths were reported from the capital city of Goma, which was captured by the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23.
The DRC prime minister further said that at least 450,000 people have been displaced due to the violence in the African nation.
The conflict, which escalated in January 2025, ties between Rwanda and Congo hit an all-time low. While Congo continues to accuse Rwanda of backing the rebel forces, the neighbouring country has denied these accusations.
The latest escalation in the fighting is a continuation of the conflict between the two countries dating back to the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s.
As the violence continues, the DRC PM has called on the world to impose sanctions on Rwanda.
"It is impossible to describe the screams and cries of millions of victims of this conflict," she said.
Due to the conflict and rise in violence in DRC, the UN has estimated that around 40,000 people have fled to the neighbouring nation of Burundi to escape the fighting.