A coalition of militant groups claims the African state’s president is responsible for the “massacre”
At least 11 people have been killed and 65 others wounded in explosions at an M23 rebel rally in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the leader of the rebel alliance has reported. A spokesman accused the country’s president of carrying out the “terrorist attack.”
Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of people who had gathered at the Independence Square rally fleeing after the blasts, with some carrying those injured. A witness who spoke with Reuters reported hearing at least two explosions. A medical source told the outlet that 68 people were being treated at the city’s general hospital.
“The order to massacre the people of Bukavu was given by [President] Tshisekedi Tshilombo after a meeting with his last governor who was chased out of Bukavu,” AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement.
In a statement on X, President Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo announced the deaths of “several compatriots” following an explosion that took place during a “forced meeting” in the South Kivu capital, Bukavu.
“President Tshisekedi strongly condemns this heinous terrorist act which was perpetrated by a foreign army illegally present on Congolese soil,” his office stated.
🔴Eleven people died after grenade blasts at an M23 rebel rally in Bukavu, second-largest eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) city, leaving 60 others injured after an address by the political-military group leaders, including Corneille Nangaa. The DRC government quickly… pic.twitter.com/e86A3s5EcR
M23 rebels seized Bukavu on February 16 in their renewed offensive against the DR Congo government since the beginning of the year. The group claimed Congolese forces and their allies had abandoned the city of approximately 1.3 million people, prompting its fighters to take control and address security concerns.
The militants earlier seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu, where the UN says they have appointed de facto authorities, including a governor and mayor.
About 7,000 people have been killed in the fighting, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa told a high-level meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
The incident on Thursday risks further escalating the conflict in the resource-rich eastern DR Congo, where the M23 and dozens of armed groups have been fighting the local authorities for power and minerals such as gold and diamonds for decades.
The former Belgian colony’s authorities have repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23 – a claim backed by a UN expert’s report and Western countries, including the US, Belgium, and the UK. Kigali has consistently denied the allegations.
On Tuesday, the British government announced that it will suspend some aid to Rwanda and impose diplomatic sanctions on the East African country over its alleged involvement in the DR Congo conflict.
The landlocked country has condemned the “punitive measure,” calling it “regrettable.” Last week, Rwanda suspended a five-year cooperation agreement with Belgium, accusing it of taking sides in the conflict and politicizing development.
