Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "We know that there are several dead, but we do not know how many," confirm church sources in Bukavu to Fides. There, today, February 27, an explosion occurred during a rally organized by the "new authorities" installed by the M23, the rebel movement that took over the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu on February 16.
"Who did this? There are three versions so far. The first, reported by a local, speaks of a suicide bomber who wanted to blow himself up along with the convoy of M23 leaders, but the bomb exploded late while the convoy was passing by, killing innocent people," the source said.
The second version reports that the meeting organized by Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the AFC (Alliance of the Congo River, the political wing of the M23), ended tragically when a violent confrontation between an M23 soldier and some civilians escalated.
The incident occurred after a tense exchange of blows and fierce criticism between supporters of Corneille Nanga and a group of young resistance fighters who had denounced speeches by the AFC coordinator that they considered to be deceitful. As tensions escalated, an M23 soldier who was present at the meeting threw a grenade into the crowd, causing general panic.
The explosion left several people dead and injured others, some seriously.
Finally, there is the version reported by Radio France International (RFI), according to which two explosions occurred two minutes after the end of Corneille Nangaa's rally. Perhaps the bombs were placed near the loudspeakers. And of course, the M23 accuses Kinshasa of being behind the attack. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/2/2025)
