Congo massacre deaths placed at 264

GOMA, Congo — While the international community is focused on the M23 rebellion, other armed groups have taken advantage of the security vacuum in eastern Congo, and killed more than 260 people since April this year, a United Nations report saidWednesday.

“In April 2012, army desertions and the subsequent creation of the M23 armed group led the Congolese army to focus on efforts to contain this new rebellion. Many armed groups have taken advantage of the security vacuum left by the redeployment of armyunits to expand their own areas of influence,” said the report.

Six investigations by the U.N. have determined that the Raia Mutomboki and Nyatura groups were responsible for most of the 75 massacres in which at least 264 people died, including 83 children.