Deadly Attack at Rebel Gathering in Bukavu Leaves 11 Dead, 60 Injured

At least 11 people were killed and 60 others injured when bombs and gunfire disrupted a rebel-led gathering in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a hospital source.

The attack took place in Bukavu’s main square, where Rwanda-backed rebels were holding their first public event since taking control of the city earlier this month. The crowd scattered in panic as explosions and gunfire erupted.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the rebel coalition that includes the M23 militia, addressed the gathering, promising increased security with special units and patrols in all communes. However, both Nangaa and M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa had reportedly left the venue before the attack.

While President Félix Tshisekedi blamed the violence on a "foreign army" operating in eastern DRC, widely seen as a reference to Rwanda, the rebels accused the government of orchestrating the attack.

Nangaa condemned the "cowardly and barbaric act", warning that it "will not go without consequences". He confirmed that two suspects had been arrested, with a search underway for others.

Since January, rebels have been advancing through eastern DRC, capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu. The United Nations (UN) reports that the conflict has displaced nearly 500,000 people, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Both the UN and the African Union have called for a ceasefire and withdrawal of rebel forces from captured territories.

Despite repeatedly denying support for M23, Rwanda now claims that the ongoing fighting near its border threatens its national security. UN analysts estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops are currently present in eastern DRC.