Newly appointed rebel authorities in Bukavu, eastern Congo, held a funeral for twelve victims of a deadly blast that occurred at a rally last week.
The incident, which took place in the city under M23 rebel control, resulted in 17 deaths, according to rebel officials.
A grenade, intended for a rebel convoy, missed its target, causing the devastating explosion.
The Congolese government and the M23 rebels have traded accusations regarding the attack.
During the funeral, residents mourned, and a priest conducted a ceremony as coffins were transported to a cemetery.
Families of the deceased expressed their grief and pleaded for peace. Claude Balolebwami Nyarubasa, who lost his brother, called on the government to end the killings.
The Congolese army accuses Rwandan troops and M23 rebels of firing rockets and grenades into the crowd.
However, Rwanda denies supporting the M23. Corneille Nangaa, a rebel alliance leader, blamed President Tshisekedi for the attack.
The recent M23 advance represents a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo, which is rooted in regional instability and the struggle for control over the region’s rich mineral resources.