Bomb attack claims lives in Eastern DR Congo

In a tragic turn of events on Monday, at least three individuals lost their lives, and a dozen others were wounded when a bomb struck a displaced persons’ camp amid intense clashes between government forces and M23 rebels. The incident unfolded in the Sake region, located 20 kilometers west of the provincial capital, Goma, leaving a trail of devastation.

Civil society sources have accused the M23 group of targeting the Zaina camp, resulting in five fatalities and 15 injuries, according to a reliable source. Medical authorities confirmed that three of the 18 casualties succumbed to their injuries as a consequence of the attack.

The day’s violence unfolded as government forces and M23 rebels engaged in fierce combat throughout the region. An administrative source warned of a potential surge in displacement among the population, emphasizing the ongoing volatility.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya took to X, formerly Twitter, to point fingers at the Rwandan army, alleging their involvement in “firing the bomb in the early evening.” Muyaya reported eight individuals sustaining severe injuries as a result of the attack.

The clash marks a heightened escalation in hostilities between the M23, one of the most formidable armed groups in the region, and the Congolese army. Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee the strategic town of Sake, positioned along the route to Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

Since reemerging from dormancy in late 2021, the M23 has seized substantial portions of the province, amplifying the challenges faced by a region already grappling with decades of unrest and regional conflicts.