At least 11 people were killed on Thursday, February 27, when explosions ripped through a rally organized by leaders of the M23 rebel group in Bukavu, a city under their control in eastern Congo.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), stated “The author of the attack is among the victims,” which includes M23. He also reported that 65 people were injured, with six in critical condition and currently undergoing surgery.
Nangaa further declared, “Following today’s unfortunate incident, we are obliged to react and move the threats far away from the province of South Kivu.”
The deadly blasts occurred in the central part of Bukavu as M23 leaders, including Nangaa, were addressing residents. Footage shared on social media depicted chaos as people fled the scene, with bodies lying on the ground.
M23 has pointed fingers at the Congolese authorities, accusing them of orchestrating the attack. “We are accusing and condemning vigorously the criminal regime of Kinshasa, which … just implemented its plan of exterminating civilian populations,” the AFC stated.
The rebel alliance also claimed that two suspected perpetrators were apprehended. “This cowardly and barbaric act will not be without consequences,” the statement added, signaling potential retaliation.
Meanwhile, Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi condemned the incident, labeling it “a heinous terrorist act that was perpetrated by a foreign army illegally present on Congolese soil.”
The United Nations has reported that M23 is supported by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops. The rebel group has, at times, threatened to advance all the way to Kinshasa, over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from their current stronghold.
Jean Samy, deputy president of the civil society Forces Vives of South Kivu, described the attack as “a sabotage.”
“Until now, we do not know where these grenades came from,” Samy stated in a phone interview.
“We have already recorded more than 13 deaths and serious injuries who will have to have their hands and legs amputated. The perpetrators of this act are still unknown.”
Jean Samy
Nangaa was leaving the podium when two explosions detonated, according to a journalist present at the scene. Before the attack, Nangaa had assured the rally that M23 was bringing “change and development” to the city.
Escalation Of Conflict In Eastern Congo
The attack comes amid a major offensive by M23, which has rapidly expanded its control over strategic cities in eastern Congo. In a swift three-week campaign, the Rwandan-backed group seized Goma, a major urban center, before advancing to Bukavu. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000 people, marking the most significant escalation in over a decade.
Eastern Congo is known for its vast mineral wealth, including gold and coltan — an essential component in consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones. The region’s resources have long fueled conflict, with various armed groups vying for control.
Rwanda has accused Congo of backing ethnic Hutu fighters linked to the 1994 genocide, in which Tutsi and moderate Hutu populations were massacred. M23 claims to be fighting to protect Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent from discrimination, as well as to transform Congo from a failed state into a functional one. However, analysts have dismissed these claims as mere pretexts for Rwanda’s deeper involvement in the region.
The latest violence underscores the fragile security situation in the region, with international bodies expressing concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis. With thousands displaced by the conflict and reports of targeted killings, the international community is calling for diplomatic solutions to prevent further bloodshed.
As tensions mount, it remains unclear how M23 and its backers will respond to the attack, but the potential for retaliation raises fears of further instability in eastern Congo.
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