More than 30 people were killed and at least 20 others injured after a bomb explosion in eastern Congo, following clashes between the Congolese army and a pro-government militia.
The violence occurred despite a recently signed agreement in Washington, hailed as a major step toward peace in the region.
Residents and civil society leaders told the Associated Press (AP) that Congolese soldiers had engaged in fighting with militias that had been assisting the army in operations against rebel groups before the explosion struck the town of Sange in South Kivu on Sunday evening.
Over 100 armed groups are competing for control in eastern Congo, a mineral-rich area located near the border with Rwanda. Among the most prominent factions is the M23 rebel movement, which Rwanda backs.
Officials say the ongoing conflict has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, displacing more than 7 million people.
The deadly explosion comes less than a week after a US-brokered peace deal aimed at halting the ongoing war between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebels. However, residents, civil society members, and analysts report that fighting continues despite the agreement.
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