In a horrifying turn of events, gunfire and explosions erupted at a mass rally in Bukavu eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday leaving over 11 people dead and many others wounded.
The gathering led by rebel leader Corneille Nangaa and members of the M23 armed group descended into chaos as mortars struck triggering panic among hundreds of attendees who scrambled for safety.
The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed but eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer terror as the city was engulfed in violence.
What was meant to solidify M23’s political standing among local supporters by Corneille Nangaa the former electoral commission chief turned rebel leader quickly became a battlefield.
The rally organized in support of the M23 movement was abruptly interrupted when gunshots rang out followed by deafening explosions.
Residents of Bukavu a city already grappling with instability due to ongoing conflicts in the eastern DRC reported seeing bodies on the ground as people desperately sought refugee.
The Congolese government has long accused M23 of fueling instability in the region while the rebels claim they are fighting against state oppression and for the rights of Congolese Tutsi communities.
The government has yet to issue an official statement on the attack but sources suggest that military forces were on high alert prior to the event. Whether this was an ambush by government forces, a rival militia, or an internal factional dispute within M23 is still unclear.
Eastern Congo has been in conflict for decades with numerous armed groups vying for power, resources and ethnic dominance.
M23 rebels primarily composed of Tutsi fighters have been at the center of some of the most intense clashes in recent years, often accused of committing atrocities and backed by neighboring Rwanda a claim that Kigali denies.
The latest violence in Bukavu raises serious concerns about the potential for escalating conflict as tensions between M23, the Congolese government and other armed factions continue to heat up.
The human cost of this attack cannot be overstated. Video footage and testimonies from the scene describe harrowing moments as civilians many of whom were mere onlookers became unintended victims of the bloodshed.
The city of Bukavu is a home to thousands displaced by previous conflicts is once again at the center of a humanitarian crisis.
