The statement was released on Friday, after several days of shelling targeting different areas of South Kivu, particularly in Kamanyola.

In a statement signed by AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the group informed Congolese citizens, people living in the wider region, and the international community that for the past three days shells have been fired from Burundian territory.

He said the shells “are killing women and children, injuring many civilians, and destroying homes, schools and health facilities.”

Kanyuka went on to state that, during the same period, “airstrikes, drone attacks and heavy shelling have targeted heavily populated areas in North and South Kivu, launched from Burundian territory.”

He added that these new attacks confirm what he called the “evil plan” of the Congolese government to exterminate eastern Congolese communities.

“AFC/M23 strongly condemns these terrorist attacks by the Kinshasa government and its ally Burundi, which have killed 23 people and left many others seriously wounded,” he said.

He further noted that the attacks have forced many civilians to flee to places including Bukavu and Rwanda, describing the operations as crimes against humanity.

The coalition insisted that it remains committed to protecting civilians, adding that it “strongly condemns Burundi’s involvement in the Congo war, at a time when our struggle is aimed at defending the rights of our people.”

Kanyuka added: “Burundi should be investing its efforts in improving the lives of its own population.”

Fighting intensified in the Kamanyola area just as a peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda was signed in Washington D.C. this week with the aim of ending the conflict.