Priyanka Tiwari
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Congo Blasts: Terrorists launched a shocking assault in the eastern city of Bukavu on Thursday. It is estimated that around 11 fatalities have occurred and more than 65 people suffered injuries in this attack. The blasts occurred while members of the ‘M23’ rebel group were having a meeting. Cornel Nanga, head of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), stated that an inquiry into t he incident is currently in process. As is said, ‘M23’ is also a part of AFC. As a result of this attack, there was wide-scale panic which decended in the region, and the casualties have been sent to the hospital. The security agencies are investigating.
Cornel Nanga, who heads Cong River Alliance (AFC), said in a statement, “11 people died in this attack and the investigation is ongoing.” They include M23 as well. He also stated, “65 people were injured, out of which six are in critical condition and are currently receiving treatment.”
Other leaders of the M23 rebel movement along with Nanga were talking with locals when the explosion took place. Videos and images that were circulated on social media on Thursday showed a group of people running from a hostile meeting in Bukavu, with some people lying on the ground stained with blood.
M23 has sought to blame Congolese officers for the M23 attack. “We express our strongest condemnation to the Kinshasa regime which has… executed its plan to exterminate the population,” the AFC remarked. “In this assault, many were killed, including some Kinshasa militants, while many others suffered injuries,” it said. “There will be retribution for this ghastly and uncivilized action,” it said.
3,000 Dead
In the meantime, the Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has claimed the assault to be a ‘disturbing terrorist act conducted by foreign armed forces in the country without due permission.’ M23 rebels captured important cities in the area and have inflicted deaths unto approximately 3000 people. As per the claims of the UN, these rebels seem to have support from roughly 4,000 soldiers out of Rwanda.
As a journalist from the protest recounted, Nanga was among the leaders who left the stage during the midst of two explosions. Nanga had earlier stated at the protest that M23 was bringing ‘transformation and progress’ to his city.
The acronym of M23 stands for March 23 Movement which refers to a rebel group based in the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its activities date back to 2012, and it is ethnically linked to Tutsi people. M23 started with ex-soldiers of the Congolese army who served the government but revolted due to the exective’s cheating of the 23 March 2009 peace agreement. In 2012, M23 took control of Goma in Congo but the city was eventually freed from its control. This organization has recently re-emerged and has participated in many fighting activities.
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