12 Killed In Bomb Attacks On Congo Displacement Camps

Calling the assaults a “flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law”, the UN condemned the actions, asserting they may constitute a war crime. 

At least 12 killed after bombings strike two displacement camps in Congo. (Representational Image) ( Image Source :Getty Images )

At least 12 people, including children, were killed in bomb attacks targetting two displacement camps in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, news agency AP reported on Friday citing local officials and the United Nations. The UN released a statement on the two bomb attacks. The attacks struck two camps for displaced persons located in Lac Vert and Mungunga, Near Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. 

Calling the assaults a “flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law”, the UN condemned the actions, asserting they may constitute a war crime. 

Congolese army spokesperson Lt. Colonel Ndjike Kaiko states that the attacks were carried out by a rebel faction, identified as M23, allegedly connected to Rwanda, news agency Associated Press (AP) reported. 

However, the M23 rebel group refuted any involvement in the incidents and instead accused Congolese forces, as per the report.

As the situation unfolds, specific details from the affected area remain scarce. 

According to a UN Spokesperson, Jean Jonas Yaovi Tossa, the attacks killed at least 12 people, and 20 injured. 

Save The Children, an aid organisation, disclosed being present at one of the camps when the shells struck, close to a bustling marketplace, according to AP. They reported numerous injuries, predominantly among women and children, with the exact death toll yet to be determined 

President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo, who was in Europe, promptly decided to return following the bombings, as per an official statement issued by his office. 

Tshisekedi persistently accused Rwanda of fostering instability in Congo by supporting the M23 rebels. Allegations of Rwanda’s backing of the rebels have been also echoed by UN experts and the US State Department, as reported by AP. However, Rwanda vehemently denied such claims. 

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Rwanda to cease its backing of the M23 rebel faction during a joint press conference with Tshisekedi in Paris. 

These bombings come in the wake of the M23 rebel group’s seizure of the strategic mining of the town of Rubaya, known for its tantalum deposits extracted from coltan, a crucial element in smartphone production. The significance of this town was highlighted in an official statement from the Congo’s government to Apple, querying the tech giant’s awareness of “blood minerals” infiltrating its supply chain. 

The protracted conflict in eastern Congo has endangered one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, with over 100 armed groups vying for dominance in the region, primarily driven by territorial disputes and control over lucrative mineral resources. Amid the chaos, many factions claim to be defending their communities, yet several reports of mass atrocities, including killings and sexual violence, continue to emerge. Consequently, approximately 7 million people have been displaced.