On January 25, a bomb went off at a market in eastern Congo, injuring at least 12 people, according to authorities.
Beni town in North Kivu was the scene of a bombing carried out by an unidentified individual, according to local official Tharcisse Katembo.
He told reporters in Beni that “damage was documented” and that “at least 12 people were injured, some in their lower limbs, some in their upper limbs, and some were hit in the head.”
According to Katembo, the victims were taken to the hospital, and an investigation was in progress.
Nobody assumed ownership of the bomb. However, according to the UN, there have been more attacks in North Kivu by the Allied Democratic Forces, which are thought to be affiliated with the Islamic State extremist movement.
At least 14 people were killed and numerous others were hurt in an attack on a church in Kasindi town earlier this month, which was claimed by Islamic State. In its Aamaq news outlet, it claimed to have buried an explosive device inside the church and set it off while worshippers were in a meditative state.
According to the U.N., the Allied Democratic Forces have carried out attacks that have killed at least 370 civilians since April and kidnapped hundreds more, including a sizable number of children. says.
According to witnesses, the explosion happened on Wednesday (Jan. 25) near a cassava mill in a local market.
According to an interview with local reporters heard by The Associated Press, Danny Syaghuswa, 16, claimed he was riding his motorcycle when a man in a striped shirt put a small bag behind a door and said he would retrieve it later. The bomb exploded “less than five minutes after he left,” according to Syaghuswa.
People lying on the ground are depicted in attack images that are going around in chat groups. One woman was carrying a young child while wearing blood-stained clothing.
For decades, eastern Congo has been plagued by violence as more than 120 armed groups and self-defense militias battle for territory and power. According to the United Nations, nearly 6 million people are internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands are suffering from severe food insecurity.
