At least 11 people lost their lives, and 65 others sustained injuries following explosions at a rally organized by M23 rebels in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday.

Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the rebel alliance that includes M23, accused President Felix Tshisekedi of orchestrating the attack.

Meanwhile, Congo's presidency blamed a "foreign army illegally present on Congolese soil," a reference to Rwanda, which it has long accused of supporting M23—a claim Rwanda denies. Neither party provided concrete evidence to support their allegations.

The violence threatens to escalate further the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, a mineral-rich region that has drawn in several neighboring countries. Nangaa claimed that the grenades used in the attack matched those used by the Burundian army in Congo. However, Reuters could not verify this claim.

Burundi has maintained a military presence in eastern Congo for years, initially to combat Burundian rebels but more recently to assist in operations against M23. Burundian army spokesperson Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza condemned the attack, stating on X that there were no Burundian soldiers in Bukavu, but he did not address Nangaa’s claims about the grenades.

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The M23 rebels have been advancing through eastern Congo since early 2024, capturing key cities like Bukavu and Goma. In the aftermath of the explosions, chaos ensued as people fled, with many carrying the injured to hospitals. A medical source confirmed that 68 individuals received treatment at Bukavu’s general hospital.

Eyewitness Musanga Tambwe recounted hearing two loud blasts. He described seeing a plastic bag thrown nearby before it exploded, causing panic.