15 people die after children unknowingly bring home bomb

At least 15 people have lost their lives after some children unknowingly brought home an explosive device they'd found while out playing.

The incident took place on Friday evening (6 October), when the children came across the device near a palm oil tree and took it back home to their parents.

As the adults were trying to figure out what the device was, the bomb went off and killed more than a dozen of those in the vicinity.

The explosion happened in the village of Kyangitsi, in Masisi territory in North Kivu province of eastern Congo.

Telesphore Mitondeke, a member of a Masisi grouping of civil society organizations, commented: "At around 8 p.m. local time, while some of the residents were trying to find out what it was, the bomb exploded."

Local sources report the majority of those who lost their lives were women and children. Two people were also left injured as a result of the blast.

The discovery of the explosive comes as the region has faced hostilities in the last two weeks between local armed groups who are fighting for control of villages.

Many civilians have fled the area as the battle for control continues, with evidence of the conflict made clear by the treacherous landscape.

According to Mitondeke, the area 'is littered with numerous explosive devices abandoned and booby-trapped by fighters.'

As a result of the conflict, residents are being urged to be extremely vigilant and to not touch explosive devices if they come across one.

Instead, locals are being asked to alert authorities so the appropriate responders can intervene and deal with the devices as safely as possible.

Local community leaders have shared that part of the strategic town of Kitshanga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is now in the hands of the 'Wazalendo' patriot self-defense forces after they managed to dislodge the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.

Bertrand Bisimwa, the president of M23 rebels, and the group's political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, have claimed the conflict has been initiated by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers in coalition with the Wazalendo militia.

In a statement released earlier in October, Kanyuka said: "The Republican Guard, which committed the massacre in Goma under the orders of Mr Tshisekedi Tshilombo, has now joined the widespread attacks of the FARDC, FDLR."

"The M23 is holding its positions while protecting the population," Kanyuka added.