The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) has condemned the terrorist attack that struck Place du 24 in Bukavu on Thursday, February 27, 2025, accusing President Félix Tshisekedi and his allies of orchestrating the deadly assault.
In a statement issued after the attack, AFC/M23 extended its deepest condolences to the people of Bukavu and denounced Kinshasa’s brutality against civilians. The movement stated that the attack was premeditated, following weeks of online threats calling for the physical elimination of AFC/M23 Coordinator Corneille Nangaa. A video released by a Congolese activist just a day before the attack revealed that Tshisekedi had covertly deployed Wazalendo militias to sabotage the rally and assassinate Nangaa and other AFC/M23 leaders.
The bombing left many dead and wounded, including innocent civilians and suspected Kinshasa-backed operatives. According to AFC/M23, two terrorists responsible for the attack were captured, while a manhunt is underway for the remaining perpetrators. The movement described the attack as cowardly and barbaric, warning that it will not go unanswered.
AFC/M23 has called on the international community, including the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to take action against Kinshasa’s crimes. Despite the bloodshed, it urged Bukavu residents to remain calm and assured them that security measures were being reinforced to prevent further violence.
This attack follows weeks of drone bombings by Kinshasa’s forces in South Kivu, which have targeted densely populated civilian areas, including schools and healthcare centers. Bukavu, a city just three kilometers from the Rwandan border, had recently been captured by AFC/M23 forces, and life was beginning to return to normal before this latest act of terror reignited tensions.
As violence escalates, calls for accountability and justice are growing, with many questioning Kinshasa’s motives and its relentless war against the people of eastern Congo.
