Bomb attacks at displacement camps in Congo result in deaths of at least 12 people, including children

At least 12 people, including children, were killed in bomb attacks on two camps for displaced people in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province on Friday. The United Nations, local officials, and an aid group confirmed the tragic incident.

The bombs struck the camps in Lac Vert and Mugunga, near the city of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. The UN condemned the attacks as a “flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law” and potentially constituting a war crime.

The Congolese army spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Ndjike Kaiko, attributed the attacks to the rebel group M23, which is allegedly linked to Rwanda. However, the M23 rebels denied any involvement and instead blamed Congolese forces for the bombings.

Details from the area were still emerging, but reports indicated that at least 12 people were killed and more than 20 were injured in the attacks. Save The Children, an aid group present at one of the camps, reported that dozens were injured, mostly women and children, with an unclear death toll.

Congo’s president, Felix Tshisekedi, who was abroad, decided to return home following the bombings. Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that Rwanda denies. The recent bombings come after the M23 rebels captured the strategic mining town of Rubaya, known for its tantalum deposits used in smartphone production.

The conflict in eastern Congo has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups vying for control of valuable minerals. The violence has displaced millions of people, with many unable to access aid.