11 killed and scores seriously injured in a grenade attack during an M23 rally in Bukavu city centre
Video above: AFC-M23 chiefs holding a brief meeting with press after the bomb attack!
An explosion rocked the city of Bukavu this Thursday, during a meeting organized by Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the Congo River Alliance (AFC-M23). This attack, which occurred shortly after his speech, plunged the crowd into panic and caused several human losses.
According to the official report released by the AFC-M23, the attack left 11 dead and 65 wounded. The explosion occurred at Independence Square, in the city center, just after a speech by Corneille Nangaa.
At a press conference held after the attack, Corneille Nangaa accused Kinshasa of being behind this attack, which he describes as a maneuver aimed at silencing his movement. He also announced that the AFC-M23 would cover the funeral expenses and care for the wounded.
For his part, President Félix Tshisekedi strongly condemned the attack, denouncing a "barbaric and unacceptable" act. He pointed the finger at the Rwandan army and its allies in the AFC-M23, whom he accuses of being behind this deadly explosion.
Is Kinshasha or M23?
According to a source within the civilian population of BUKAVU who followed the scene well, they allege that it was M23 soldiers who threw grenades and fired bullets into the civilian population when the young people started a song demanding the departure of the Rwandan Army on Congolese soil.
For its part, M23 accuses Kinshasa of having "dropped these bombs" causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
The M23 announced that a rapid investigation into the bombs fired at residents attending a meeting with the leadership of the AFC/M23 Alliance revealed that it was an act of terrorism by the Congolese government, using weapons from the Burundian military.
The leadership of the AFC/M23 Alliance announced that a few minutes after the meeting with the residents of Bukavu, which was well-attended, began, bombs were fired into the crowd, killing some, believed to have been carried out by the Congolese government, who intended to assassinate the Coordinator of the Alliance, Corneille Nangaa.
This occurred on Thursday, February 27, 2025, when the AFC/M23 leadership was gathering residents for a meeting attended by many residents of the city of Bukavu, which was recently captured by M23 fighters.
During the meeting, AFC/M23 Political Spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka described the atmosphere at the meeting, where the people had gathered in large numbers and had set a morale that was also led by the Coordinator of the Forum, Corneille Nangaa.
A few hours later, M23 President Batrand Bisimwa announced that shortly after the meeting began, shots were fired with the aim of killing Coordinator Corneille Nangaa.
In his message, Bertrand Bisimwa, who accused Tshisekedi of these acts, called them “barbaric” and said: “The Tshisekedi regime has already implemented the violence that has been spread since yesterday on social media with the aim of harming the civilian population who attended the AFC/M23 meeting, which was scheduled to take place on the day of the meeting.”
He continued: “On Thursday, February 27, 2025, a few minutes after the start of this meeting, armed men with malicious intent fired grenades into the population, who had gathered at the meeting venue, causing many deaths and injuries.”
M23 President Bertrand Bisimwa said that they cannot tolerate these actions of the Kinshasa government, which refuses to lift its spear, continuing to fire bombs in various areas inhabited by the population, including densely populated areas.
Bertrand Bisimwa also announced that the initial investigation showed that these bombs were fired in a terrorist operation by the Congolese government, using weapons from the Burundian military, which is already partnering with the FARDC in the fight against M23.
Nañgaa in press conference revealed that 65 were injured,including six with serious injuries,11 dead including one woman and the perpetrator.He further said that M23 will help all those who lost their beloved one in burial arrangements and pay hospital bills to all those injured.
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