Deadly blasts hit M23 rally in Bukavu

A deadly series of explosions at an M23 rebel rally in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, killed 13 people and wounded nearly 100, escalating tensions in the conflict-torn region. Both sides have issued contradictory claims about who was responsible for the attack.

Congo's military accused Rwandan troops of firing rockets and grenades into the crowd gathered in the city's central square during a speech by one of the rebellion's leaders. Rwanda, which has consistently denied supporting the M23 rebels despite widespread evidence to the contrary, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Corneille Nangaa, who leads a rebel alliance that includes M23, countered by blaming Congo's President for the violence. At a press conference, he claimed the grenades used were identical to those employed by Burundi's army, which has been supporting Congo's military forces.. A Burundian army spokesman denied their soldiers were present in Bukavu but did not address the specific allegations about the grenades.

Outside Bukavu's general hospital, approximately 30 relatives waited to identify the remains of those killed. Hospital officials announced they would not release any bodies and instructed grieving families to leave their contact information.

The violence comes amid the rebels' expanding territorial control in eastern Congo, having captured the region's two major cities despite multiple international efforts to halt their advance. International sanctions, investigations by the International Criminal Court, and Africa-led peace negotiations have all failed to stop the conflict.

The human toll has been devastating. According to government figures, fighting since January has killed around 7,000 people and left almost half a million without shelter. The incident highlights the increasingly complicated nature of the conflict, which has drawn in multiple regional actors and created a severe humanitarian crisis that continues to worsen despite international attention.