A deadly attack shook Bukavu on Thursday as two bombs exploded during an M23 rebel rally. At least 11 people were killed, and 65 others were injured, many critically.
The blasts occurred at Independence Square in the heart of Bukavu, shortly after Corneille Nangaa, the coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve rebel group, addressed the crowd. According to Bertrand Bisimwa, head of M23’s political wing, the rally had gathered supporters when tragedy struck.
Nangaa confirmed the deaths, noting that one of the victims was a woman. “Sixty-five people were injured, six of whom are in critical condition,” he told reporters. He also emphasized that he and other leaders at the rally had escaped unharmed.
Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi swiftly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous terrorist act.” In a statement from his office, he accused a “foreign army illegally present on Congolese soil,” implying Rwanda’s involvement in the incident.
The M23 group, however, blamed the explosions on Congolese government forces. They extended their condolences to the people of Bukavu, further complicating the already tense situation.
The M23 rebels have gained significant ground in eastern Congo, having seized key cities like Goma and Bukavu since December. While Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23, Kigali denies the allegations.
The region’s instability has resulted in over 7,000 deaths this year alone, as fighting continues to ravage the eastern provinces, leaving thousands displaced and lives shattered.
