At least 11 killed in two explosions during a meeting of the M23 movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo

At least 11 people were killed, and around sixty others were injured in two explosions on Thursday at the end of a meeting of the M23 armed movement in the city of Bukavu, in eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a medical source who spoke to AFP.

President Félix Tshisekedi described the explosions as “a heinous terrorist act.”

The first explosion caused panic among the attendees, prompting them to flee before a second explosion occurred.

Korhney Nanga, a leader of the M23 movement, participated in the meeting in the capital of South Kivu province. Nanga had left the Independence Square, where the meeting was held, at the time of the explosions. A medical source at the Bukavu Regional General Hospital said, “There are 11 bodies in the morgue.”

The source added, “As for the wounded, their number reaches about sixty.”

Bukavu is one of the two main cities in the region that has been controlled by M23 fighters in recent weeks. These fighters, who oppose the government, are said by United Nations experts to be supported by the Rwandan army.

Witnesses who attended the meeting earlier reported seeing between five and seven bodies after the explosions.

The M23 movement took control of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, more than a week ago, after seizing Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and the main city in eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the end of last month.

Eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed ongoing conflicts for decades, but it has descended into new turmoil with the M23 taking control of vast areas of land in both provinces.

The control of Bukavu and Goma provides the movement with a foothold in the resource-rich region, as the M23, which reemerged in late 2021, continues its activities.