Twelve victims of a grenade blast during a rally in Bukavu were buried by newly appointed rebel authorities. The explosion, attributed to a failed attack on rebel leaders, led to 17 deaths. Witnesses and local residents expressed fears and called for governmental action to restore peace amid ongoing conflict driven by historical and resource-related issues in eastern Congo.
On Tuesday, twelve victims from a grenade blast during a rally in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were buried, following an organization by newly appointed rebel authorities. The explosion occurred last Thursday in Bukavu, a city currently controlled by Rwanda-supported M23 rebels since February. Both the insurgents and Congo’s government have exchanged accusations regarding responsibility for the attack.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the grenade, aimed at hitting a convoy of rebel leaders, went astray and detonated in a central square. Reports indicate that the explosion claimed the lives of 17 individuals, with 11 dying instantly as confirmed by Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, the newly appointed provincial vice governor. The remaining casualties succumbed to their injuries later in the hospital.
During the funeral, grieving residents participated in a solemn ceremony where the coffins were blessed and transported for burial. Relatives, especially women who lost family members in the attack, expressed profound sorrow as the coffins were loaded for their final journey. Claude Balolebwami Nyarubasa mourned the loss of his older brother, who was killed by the explosion while passing through the square.
Nyarubasa voiced the community’s fears, appealing for government intervention to restore peace, stating, “At the moment, we are very worried… We plead with the government to help us, let these killings stop.” Reports also indicated that the Congolese army accused Rwandan troops and rebels of launching rockets and grenades at civilians during a rally for rebel leaders, although Rwanda denies involvement with M23.
The leader of the rebel alliance, Corneille Nangaa, assigned blame for the attack to President Felix Tshisekedi. This incident signifies an alarming escalation in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, which has persisted for over a decade and is intertwined with the repercussions of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the quest for control over the country’s extensive mineral wealth.
The blast at the rally in Bukavu has intensified tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, showcasing the conflict’s complexity, marked by accusations between the government and rebels. With 17 fatalities and ongoing community unrest, the appeal for peace and intervention remains critical as the region grapples with its history of violence and resource struggles.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
