The United States has held the Rwandan military and the M23 rebel group responsible for a devastating strike on a displacement camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in multiple deaths.
The assault, which occurred on Friday at the Mugunga camp in Goma, claimed the lives of at least nine people, including seven children.
Following the incident, both the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group engaged in a blame game, each accusing the other of being behind the attack.
Rwanda, a neighboring country with a history of supporting M23, continues to deny any involvement.
However, the US State Department announced that the strike appeared to have originated from positions controlled by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and M23 rebels.
A spokesperson for the State Department commented, “We are gravely concerned about the recent RDF and M23 expansion” in the eastern DRC.
The US also urged both groups to adhere to international humanitarian law and respect human rights.
They added, “It is essential that all states respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and hold accountable all actors for human rights abuses in the conflict in eastern DR Congo.”
Social media images from the day of the attack showed the tragic aftermath, with bodies strewn across the camp. Many of the camp’s residents had fled there to escape violence in their hometowns and villages.
Lt. Col. Guillaume Njike Kaiko, a spokesperson for the DRC army in the region, alleged that the strike was a retaliatory measure in response to earlier Congolese attacks on RDF positions.
This incident has prompted the return of DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, who had been abroad for several weeks.
Both the M23 rebels and government forces have faced accusations of civilian abuse in recent months as they battle for control over the eastern DRC.
This latest bombing comes shortly after M23 fighters claimed control of Rubaya, a key town known for its coltan reserves—a mineral crucial for the production of mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries.
In another development, a military court in Goma has sentenced eight DRC soldiers to death for desertion and cowardice in the face of rebel forces.
M23, which emerged in 2012, is believed to have originated from a splinter group and was initially established to protect the Tutsi population in eastern DRC.
Although UN experts have linked M23 to Rwanda, the Rwandan government continues to refute these claims.
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