Families of the victims of last week's bomb attacks on two camps of displaced people in eastern Congo gathered to mourn their loved ones at a ceremony on Monday evening. The bombings at the Mugunga and Lac Vert displacement camps killed at least 18 people and injured another 32, according to the United Nations. Most of the victims were women and children.
During the ceremony in the city of Goma in the North Kivu Province, mourners sang and lit candles in tribute to the deceased. Alimeti Kigiho, a survivor of the attack, shared his heartbreaking experience of finding his wife and two young children dead in pieces after the explosions.
The Congolese army and a rebel group known as M23 have blamed each other for the bombings. The conflict in eastern Congo involves over 100 armed groups fighting for land and control of valuable minerals, leading to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The violence has displaced about 7 million people, with many living in temporary camps.
Justine Joza Bushashire lost her 19-year-old son, Daudi, in the bombings. Daudi used to sell phone charging units in the camp to support his family. The attacks have prompted some residents to consider returning to their homes despite the risks.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi accuses neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, while the international community has been criticized for failing to end the conflict. Some mourners at the ceremony expressed frustration with the president's handling of the situation.
