KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities and a civil society group said Thursday they found mass graves in eastern Congo from an area the M23 rebel group has recently withdrawn from, as fighting in the region escalates despite a U.S. mediated peace deal.

The governor of South-Kivu province, Jacques Purusi, said authorities found two mass graves with over 171 dead bodies in the area of the major eastern city of Uvira.

“At this stage, we have identified two sites: one mass grave containing approximately 30 bodies in Kiromoni, not far from the Burundian border on the Congolese side, and another in Kavimvira where 141 bodies were found,” Purusi told The Associated Press over the phone.

The Associated Press could not independently verify the claim. M23’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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