Bukavu Hospital Patients Recount Being Shot Amid Chaotic Army Retreat

Patients in Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, have described being shot as the Congolese army and its allies withdrew ahead of the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Widespread gunfire and looting preceded the rebels’ arrival on 14 February, overwhelming local hospitals already struggling with limited resources.

“I was lying on my bed at home near Katana when a bullet suddenly hit my shin,” said 22-year-old Priscilla Nabintu from her bed in Bukavu’s general hospital. Another patient, 20-year-old Mugisho Shalukoma, had his leg amputated after being shot. “I didn’t see who shot me. Those around me brought me here,” he said.

Weapons Abandoned, Civilians Caught in Crossfire

As M23 approached Bukavu, reports surfaced of civilians—including children—collecting abandoned weapons left by fleeing Congolese troops. Human rights activist Deogracias Chibambo described widespread panic, with bullets being fired in many areas.

The UN human rights office has accused M23 rebels of killing three children in Bukavu who were wearing military uniforms and carrying weapons from an abandoned Congolese army camp. The rebels denied the allegations, calling them government propaganda.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that between 14 and 24 February, 162 people were admitted to Bukavu’s general hospital with conflict-related injuries, three of whom later died.

Health System Struggles Under Conflict

The ongoing violence has severely impacted medical aid. The ICRC’s warehouse in Goma was looted last month, depriving hospitals of essential medical supplies. “Some patients who could have been saved have already died from their injuries due to delays in evacuation,” said ICRC project manager Emmanuel Konin.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has also been supporting overwhelmed hospitals in Bukavu, treating dozens of gunshot and shrapnel victims. “We are assessing the situation and looking at ways to expand our emergency response,” said Marcus Bachmann, MSF’s South Kivu program head.

Escalating Violence and Regional Implications

The conflict has intensified, with at least 13 people killed and dozens injured in explosions at an M23 rally in Bukavu last Thursday. The rebels accused Congolese authorities of orchestrating the attack, while Congo’s army blamed Rwandan troops for firing into the crowd.

M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led rebel group, has rapidly advanced south after capturing Goma last month. The Congolese government and UN reports accuse Rwanda of backing the rebels to exploit the region’s mineral wealth, claims Kigali denies.

Since January, 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 500,000 displaced as violence escalates. The UN refugee agency estimates that 60,000 people have fled into Burundi in the past two weeks alone. Despite international sanctions and diplomatic efforts, the crisis in eastern Congo shows no signs of abating.