Twelve victims of a deadly blast at a rally in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, were laid to rest on Tuesday in a ceremony organized by newly appointed rebel authorities.
The explosion, which occurred last Thursday, killed 17 people and injured many others, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the conflict-ridden region.
Witnesses reported that a grenade intended to target a convoy of rebel leaders missed its mark, striking a crowd instead. Congo’s government and the M23 rebels have traded blame for the attack, with Congo’s army accusing Rwandan troops and rebels of firing rockets and grenades into the crowd. Rwanda denies supporting the M23 rebels.
Funeral Ceremony Highlights Grief and Desperation
During the funeral ceremony, residents sang hymns, and a priest sprinkled holy water on the coffins of the victims. Women who lost husbands and sons in the attack wept as the coffins were loaded onto a truck and transported to a cemetery. Claude Balolebwami Nyarubasa, whose brother Bruno was killed in the blast, expressed his anguish, pleading with the government to end the violence and ensure peace.
Escalating Conflict in Eastern Congo
The M23 rebel advance marks the most severe escalation in over a decade of conflict in eastern Congo. The violence is rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, which spilled into Congo, and the ongoing struggle for control of the region’s vast mineral resources. Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa has blamed President Felix Tshisekedi for the attack, further complicating the political tensions.
Congo’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amid Ongoing Violence
The blast and subsequent funeral underscore the deepening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo. Despite the region’s rich mineral resources, its people continue to suffer from violence, displacement, and poverty. The international community has called for an end to the conflict, but efforts to broker peace have so far been unsuccessful.
Calls for Peace and Government Intervention
Residents of Bukavu and surrounding areas are pleading for government intervention to stop the violence. Nyarubasa’s plea reflects the desperation of many Congolese citizens who are caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
“We ask our government to guarantee us peace… let these killings stop,” he told Reuters.
