Families of the victims of bomb attacks carried out last week in two displaced persons camps in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gathered to honor their loved ones during a ceremony held on Monday evening.
During the ceremony in Goma City, North Kivu province, mourners sang and lit candles in tribute to the deceased.
The bomb attacks in the Mugunga and Lac Vert displaced camps claimed the lives of at least 18 people and injured 32 others, according to the United Nations. The type of explosives used has not been established. Most of the victims were women and children.
Alimeti Kigiho, who survived the attack, had sought refuge in the Mugunga displaced camp in February to escape the longstanding conflict in eastern DRC, only to be shaken by explosions while fetching water. He ran to his tent, where he found the bodies of his wife and two young children, aged 6 and 2. “The war has taken everything from me,” he told the Associated Press.
Humanitarian Crises
The Congolese army and the M23 rebel group have both denied responsibility for the attacks. The March 23 Movement is a rebel military group primarily composed of members of the Tutsi ethnic group that broke away from the Congolese army 12 years ago.
The decades-long conflict in eastern DRC has triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Over 100 armed groups clash in the region, mostly over land and control of mines containing precious minerals. Some fight to protect their communities. Many groups are accused of committing massacres, rapes, and other human rights violations.
Violence has displaced approximately 7 million people, thousands of whom live in temporary camps like those attacked last week. Many others are out of reach of aid.
Tensions with Rwanda
Justine Joza Bushashire lost her 19-year-old son, Daudi, in the bombings. Before the attacks, he sold phone chargers in the camp to support his family. “He wanted to join the army, but I opposed it because I relied heavily on him, but today he is no longer here,” said Justine, 37, in tears.
The attacks have prompted some camp residents to consider returning home, despite the dangers that led them to flee.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi accuses neighboring Rwanda of destabilizing Congo by supporting M23 rebels. UN experts, as well as the US State Department, have also accused Rwanda of backing the rebels. Rwanda denies these accusations.
Some attendees at Monday’s ceremony criticized President Tshisekedi and the international community for their failure to end this longstanding conflict. “If he is unable to end this war, he should resign,” said Bienfait Bonane, a young resident of Goma, to the Associated Press.