SW News: The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa said on Monday that the death toll of those who were killed by rebels last week has gone up to 272. Earlier it was estimated that there were 50 casualties.

It was Industry Minister Julien Paluku who announced the death toll. The attack was allegedly carried out by M23 rebels comprising people of Tutsi ethnicity in Kshishe in North Kivu province on November 29. Here are allegations that the rebels were supported by the Rwandan military, a claim which has been denied by that country.

Reuters quoted government spokesman Patrick Muyaya as saying, "I cannot give details of the attack. An investigation has been opened by the attorney general and we are awaiting the results of the investigators." He also added that children in an Adventist church and church and hospital were not spared either.

For months, the M23 militants and the Congolese troops have been engaged in a conflict in the eastern part of the country. Meanwhile, UN experts have opined that they have enough proof of the presence of Rwandan troops among M23 rebels and the supply of weapons and ammo.

Although the leaders of Congo and Rwanda met in the Angolan capital of Luanda recently to agree to a ceasefire, the fighting is still continuing. Several earlier meetings to resolve the crisis have all ended in a fiasco.

According to Reuters, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday he had had a "productive conversation" with Rwandan President Paul Kagame about the significance of attaining peace and stability in the country.
Meanwhile, the M23 militants said that they lost 21 fighters in clashes with the enemy coalition, adding that eight civilians were killed by stray bullets.