Gunfire broke out at a rally held by M23 rebel leader Corneille Nangaa in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday, sending crowds scrambling for safety, according to local residents.
It remains unclear who was behind the gunfire or whether there were any casualties, but the chaotic scenes unfolded as M23—an armed group accused of receiving support from Rwanda—continues its offensive in eastern Congo.
Nangaa’s appearance in Bukavu marked his first public rally since M23 fighters took control of the city nearly two weeks ago, dealing a blow to Congo’s military and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict. The rebel group, which claims to be restoring order in the areas it has seized, has reopened schools and ports in an apparent attempt to establish legitimacy.
For years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali denies. Rwanda, in turn, claims it is defending itself against the presence of a Hutu militia operating within Congo, a group it says is working alongside Congolese forces.
This latest M23 offensive represents the most serious escalation of violence in more than a decade, underscoring the deep-seated tensions that trace back to the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing battle over eastern Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
As the conflict spirals, fears grow that the crisis could spill beyond Congo’s borders, dragging the entire region into deeper instability.
