Blast Casualties in Eastern Congo Increase to 16
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Synopsis
The death toll from the recent explosions in Bukavu, DRC has reached 16, as tensions rise between the government and M23 rebels. The violence stems from deep-rooted conflicts exacerbated by historical events and external influences. Humanitarian crises continue to worsen in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Death toll from Bukavu blasts rises to 16.
- M23 rebels and DRC government blame each other.
- Conflict rooted in Rwandan genocide aftermath.
- Ongoing humanitarian crisis and population displacements.
- Recent diplomatic efforts have failed to resolve tensions.
Kinshasa, March 1 (NationPress) The number of fatalities following two explosions in Bukavu, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has now reached 16, according to government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya.
The blasts took place on Thursday, right in the center of Bukavu, shortly after a political rally endorsing the M23 rebels. Both the government and M23 have accused each other of orchestrating the attacks.
The M23 group asserts its dominance over numerous territories in eastern DRC, including Bukavu and Goma, which serve as the provincial capitals of South Kivu and North Kivu. On Friday, M23 designated a 'governor' for South Kivu, following the establishment of a parallel administration in North Kivu earlier in mid-February.
The ongoing strife between M23 and the DRC government is deeply ingrained in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and persistent ethnic conflicts.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23, while Rwanda contends that the DRC military has collaborated with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel faction implicated in the genocide against Tutsis.
This conflict has resulted in significant population displacements and a deteriorating humanitarian situation. Tensions continue to soar despite ongoing diplomatic and military attempts to resolve the conflict.
A meeting of foreign ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), which was originally set for Friday in Harare, Zimbabwe, did not occur for undisclosed reasons.
The recent joint SADC-EAC summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, held three weeks ago, represents the latest initiative aimed at tackling the crisis in the Great Lakes region, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
On February 27, the UN expressed its alarm, stating, "The humanitarian crisis is intensifying as violence escalates in three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)."
The provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri have recently experienced a rise in hostilities, with M23 rebels in the Kivus aiming to take Kinshasa. In Ituri, violence is often linked to disputes over land and resources and among ethnic groups. The eastern DRC is known for its rich mineral resources.
