Violence erupts at M23 rally in eastern DRC, several killed

Thursday 27 February 2025 - 17:05

A series of explosions and gunfire disrupted a rally for the M23 rebel group in Bukavu, a key city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), resulting in multiple casualties. The gathering, attended by M23 commander Corneille Nangaa, was the first since the group seized control of the region’s second-largest city nearly two weeks ago.

According to eyewitnesses and AFP reports, panic ensued when the first explosion detonated, causing people to flee. A second explosion followed, accompanied by gunfire. Footage from the scene showed wounded civilians and lifeless bodies in the streets, though the exact death toll remains unclear.

Speaking to Reuters, Nangaa claimed that he and other senior rebel leaders were unharmed and accused DRC President Felix Tshisekedi of orchestrating the attack, although he provided no evidence. The Congolese government has yet to comment.

Bukavu is one of two strategic cities recently captured by M23 fighters, whom United Nations experts have linked to Rwandan support. The armed group has aimed to establish order in the territories it controls by reopening schools and ports. However, its advance has been marked by reports of violence, including the deaths of approximately 7,000 people, child soldier recruitment, and sexual abuse.

The resurgence of M23 has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict involving neighboring countries, including Rwanda. The current escalation is considered the most severe in over a decade, rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the ongoing struggle for control over the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. Rwanda, in turn, has defended its actions by citing threats from a Hutu militia allegedly allied with the Congolese military.