Bloody Massacre in Congo- 11 Dead, 65 Maimed in Explosive Rally Attack— Rebel Leader Blames President Tshisekedi
Explosions at a rally held by M23 rebels in Bukavu, a city in eastern Congo, led to the deaths of 11 people and left 65 others injured on Thursday. Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the rebel alliance, blamed President Felix Tshisekedi for the attack.
Congo’s presidency, on the other hand, accused a foreign army of being responsible for the violence. It stated on X that there had been multiple deaths and blamed the attack on an illegal foreign military presence in Congo. Additionally, the government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, though no concrete evidence has been provided by either side.
This incident adds to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, a region rich in minerals and already affected by the involvement of neighboring countries. Nangaa claimed in a press conference that the grenades used in the attack were the same type as those employed by Burundi’s army in Congo. However, Reuters was unable to confirm this claim independently.
Burundi has had military forces in eastern Congo for several years. Initially, their mission was to track down Burundian rebels, but in recent years, they have also been involved in fighting against M23. In response to the attack, Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, the spokesperson for Burundi’s army, condemned the violence. He stated on X that there were no Burundian soldiers in Bukavu but did not directly address Nangaa’s claim regarding the grenades.
M23 has been advancing through eastern Congo since the start of the year, capturing both Bukavu and Goma, the region’s largest city. Following the explosions in Bukavu, chaos erupted as people ran through the streets, some carrying the injured.
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A medical source reported that 68 people were receiving treatment at the city’s general hospital. Musanga Tambwe, a witness, described hearing two loud explosions. He recalled seeing a plastic bag being thrown nearby. “We didn’t know what was inside. We were just looking at it. Suddenly, it exploded. Poof! We fell to the ground and ran away,” Tambwe said. He later received treatment for his injuries at the hospital.
Nangaa confirmed that he was unharmed and that other key members of the rebel group were safe.
Congo, along with the United Nations and Western powers, has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing M23. However, Rwanda denies these claims, insisting that it is protecting itself from a Hutu militia that, according to Rwanda, is allied with Congo’s military.
M23 has been trying to show that it can maintain order in the areas it has taken from Congo’s army. The group has reopened ports and schools in an effort to demonstrate stability.
This recent escalation in eastern Congo is one of the most serious in over a decade. The long-running conflict has deep roots, tracing back to the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing fight for control over Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
Bloody Massacre in Congo- 11 Dead, 65 Maimed in Explosive Rally Attack— Rebel Leader Blames President Tshisekedi
