Trusted intelligence sources inside in Kinshasa have confirmed that the February 27 attack in Bukavu specifically targeted leaders of the AFC/M23 movement.
According to a senior intelligence officer in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), President Félix Tshisekedi’s government orchestrated the attack in an attempt to eliminate key M23 figures, including spokesperson Willy Ngoma.
The source confirmed this through local media.
Despite the gravity of the attack, which left 13 people dead and around a hundred others seriously injured, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) remained silent for two days before issuing a statement. When it finally spoke, MONUSCO condemned the attack but carefully avoided assigning blame—effectively exonerating the real perpetrators.
“The fact that they can’t blame M23 means they are aware of the government’s involvement, it’s as simple as that,” said a military observer in Goma, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A Calculated Attack on M23 Leadership
According to intelligence reports, the Bukavu bombing was not a random act of violence but a targeted assassination attempt against M23 leaders. The explosive attack occurred during an AFC/M23-organized gathering at Place de l’Indépendance in Bukavu, a city that has witnessed growing tensions as M23 continues to dominate the battlefield. The attack came amid increasing concerns in Kinshasa over the rebel movement’s military and political influence in eastern DRC—an influence that has left Tshisekedi’s administration struggling to maintain control over the region.
MONUSCO’s response, or lack thereof, has raised further suspicion. The UN mission, which has been deployed in eastern DRC for over two decades with a mandate to protect civilians, has repeatedly been accused of failing to act against the real perpetrators of violence. In its official statement, Special Representative Bintou Keita condemned the attack and called for investigations but made no mention of the government’s role.
This omission has fueled speculation that MONUSCO is deliberately shielding Tshisekedi’s government from accountability. “The silence and careful wording of MONUSCO’s statement are telling. They know exactly who did this, but they won’t say it,” said the military observer in Goma.
Tshisekedi’s Desperation Amid Growing M23 Influence
The Bukavu attack highlights the Tshisekedi government’s growing desperation as it continues to lose control of eastern DRC. Despite repeated claims that it is fighting to restore stability, Kinshasa has relied on FDLR genocidaires and other militias to fight its battles, further destabilizing the region.
Meanwhile, M23’s battlefield victories and its ability to hand over 14 FDLR combatants—including notorious war criminal Brigadier General Jean Baptiste Gakwerere—to Rwandan authorities have demonstrated the group’s increasing power. In a move that further humiliated Kinshasa, M23 did what Tshisekedi failed to do—deliver known genocidaires to justice.
With MONUSCO unwilling to confront the reality of government-backed terror attacks and Tshisekedi’s administration growing more desperate, the future of eastern DRC remains uncertain. However, what is clear is that Kinshasa is losing its grip on the region, and its efforts to maintain control through violence and misinformation are being exposed one attack at a time.