Gunfire and Explosions Spark Chaos at Rebel Rally in Bukavu

A mass rally led by rebel leader Corneille Nangaa erupted into chaos on Thursday as gunfire and explosions sent crowds scrambling in terror in the eastern Congolese city of Bukavu. Eyewitnesses reported multiple casualties, with people seen fleeing, some wounded and others carrying limp bodies through the streets.

Video footage captured the aftermath of the violence, though the exact number of casualties remains uncertain. Speaking to Reuters by phone, Nangaa accused President Félix Tshisekedi of orchestrating the attack but provided no evidence to support his claim. The Congolese government has yet to comment on the incident.

Despite the violence, Nangaa emerged unharmed, along with other senior members of the M23 rebel group, which has been engaged in intense clashes with the Congolese army and seizing territory since early 2024.

Before the unrest, Nangaa had addressed thousands of supporters, promising that M23’s presence in Bukavu would restore security. “There will be special units and patrols throughout all the communes,” he assured. Since capturing the city on February 16, M23 has attempted to consolidate control by reopening schools and ports.

The gunfire broke out at the rally’s conclusion, with one resident describing indiscriminate shooting. “Shots were fired in all directions. We don’t know what happened. There are injured and dead—I can’t say how many,” the resident recounted.

M23’s latest offensive marks the most significant escalation in eastern Congo’s conflict in over a decade, rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control over the region’s vast mineral resources. The crisis has raised alarm internationally, with the Congolese government, the UN, and Western nations accusing Rwanda of backing M23—an allegation Kigali denies.

Rwanda, in turn, claims its actions are defensive, citing threats from a Hutu militia allegedly fighting alongside Congolese forces. As tensions escalate, fears grow that the violence could spiral into a broader regional conflict.

AFRICANEWS/S.S