BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – A day of horror unfolded in this eastern city today as explosions ripped through a rally held by the M23 rebel group, killing at least 11 people and injuring 65 others. The blasts, which struck around midday local time, turned a gathering meant to reassure residents into a scene of panic and bloodshed. As the sun set over Bukavu at 11:33 PM PST, the air was thick with tension, with M23 leader Corneille Nangaa pointing fingers at President Felix Tshisekedi, while conflicting accounts leave the truth shrouded in uncertainty.
The rally, Nangaa’s first public appearance in Bukavu since M23 seized the city nearly two weeks ago, was billed as a show of strength and a promise of security. Thousands had gathered at Independence Square when the first explosion hit, sending crowds fleeing in terror. A second blast followed, leaving bloodied bodies and abandoned shoes scattered across the scene, according to eyewitnesses. Nangaa, who escaped unharmed, blamed Tshisekedi’s government, claiming the attack was a deliberate act of violence. “The author of the attack is among the victims,” he told reporters, a statement that’s raised more questions than answers.
Local reports, including from hospital sources, confirm the grim toll: 11 dead and over 60 wounded, with dozens still awaiting news of loved ones outside Bukavu’s overwhelmed medical facilities. Videos circulating online show chaotic streets, with people carrying limp bodies amid the chaos. The M23, a Tutsi-led group backed by Rwanda according to UN experts, has swept through eastern Congo this year, capturing Bukavu and Goma in a lightning offensive that’s killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Today’s violence marks a grim escalation, even by the region’s brutal standards.
But the narrative isn’t so clean. Tshisekedi’s government has yet to respond officially, though a statement from the Burundian army—condemning the attack—denied any involvement, with Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza insisting no Burundian troops were in Bukavu. Some speculate the blasts could be an internal M23 power struggle or a rival militia strike, while others point to the Congolese army’s recent retreat as a possible trigger for unrest. The UN human rights office, which reported M23 executing children in Bukavu last week, is investigating, but their findings won’t come soon enough to quell the speculation.
On the ground, residents are reeling. A shopkeeper near the square told me, “We came for hope, and now we’re burying our neighbors.” Others question M23’s promises, with looting and chaos following their takeover still fresh in memory. Posts found on X reflect the split: some decry the violence as evidence of government failure, others see it as M23’s own instability unraveling. The establishment narrative—pushing Tshisekedi as a victim of rebel aggression—feels convenient, but the lack of hard evidence leaves room for doubt. Was this a targeted hit, a botched security plan, or something else entirely?
The fallout could shift the region’s delicate balance. M23’s grip on Bukavu and Goma, both mineral-rich hubs, has already drawn international scrutiny, with the U.S. and EU pressing Rwanda to rein in its proxies. Today’s blasts might force a rethink, but with no clear culprit yet, the risk of further escalation looms large. For now, Bukavu mourns, and the world watches a conflict that shows no sign of slowing.
