DR Congo Holds Funeral for Bombing Victims in North Kivu

The Democratic Republic of the Congo held a funeral on 15 May 2024 for victims of rocket attacks that hit several camps for internally displaced persons in North Kivu province two weeks earlier.

The ceremony took place in the provincial capital of Goma, according to The Independent UG. At least five rockets landed in and around four IDP sites on 3 May, causing multiple deaths.

North Kivu has been one of the main theatres of conflict in eastern DRC for years. Armed groups, including the M23 rebels, operate in the area, regularly clashing with government forces and contributing to large-scale displacement.

Hundreds of thousands of Congolese have sought shelter in makeshift camps around Goma after fleeing violence elsewhere in the province. These sites often lack basic services and remain vulnerable to further attacks.

The repeated targeting of civilian areas, including displacement camps, has drawn criticism from humanitarian organisations. Such incidents exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where millions remain displaced.

Local authorities have not publicly identified the perpetrators of the 3 May strikes. Investigations into the attacks were expected but little information has since been released.

The funeral formed part of official efforts to honour the dead and signal state attention to the plight of displaced communities in the region. It remains unclear whether additional security measures have been put in place to protect other IDP sites from similar attacks.

Eastern DRC has experienced recurring waves of violence since the mid-1990s. Successive peace initiatives have failed to bring lasting stability, leaving civilian populations caught between competing armed factions.

Based on reporting by The Independent UG.