Following the May 3 explosions that targeted IDP camps in Lac-Vert and Mugunga near Goma, the capital of DRC's North Kivu Province, US Department of State’s Spokesperson Matthew Miller was quick to blame Rwanda before any investigation was concluded to establish the facts.

A dozen of people, including children, were killed in twin bomb blasts that hit the two camps, according to different reports.

“The US strongly condemns the attack today from Rwanda Defense Forces and M23 positions on the Mugunga camp for Internally Displaced Persons in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is essential that all states respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Miller posted on X on May 4.

While the US’ audacity to impose the problems of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Rwanda’s shoulders highlights Washington’s partiality in Kigali-Kinshasa tensions, the move came as no surprise as the West chose to support the narrative created by President Felix Tshisekedi, so as to get access to DRC’s mineral resources in return.

Miller ignored the concerns raised by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) whose workers are on the ground. All he minded was to appease Tshisekedi.

On May 4, MSF condemned “the increasing use of heavy artillery close to displacement sites around Goma and urgently call on all parties to the conflict to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and humanitarian staff, as well as unhindered access for humanitarian organizations”.

“The impact of armed clashes in and around the camps of Goma has reached yet another unacceptable level today. While living in immensely precarious conditions, displaced people find themselves caught in the crossfire in the very place they were seeking safety in,” said Marie Brun, MSF emergency coordinator.

Video clips on social media showed refugees crying for help, while accusing the Congolese national army and its coalition of allies to be behind the attack.

Sources from Goma confirmed that the Congolese army and its coalition set weapons nearer the IDP camps, to use the refugees as a human shield.

South Africa, as part of the SADC mission in DRC, has been delivering more weapons and ammunitions in Goma, including 66 tons of ammunitions delivered from April 14 to April 18, in preparation for a heavy offensive against M23 rebels.

Security commentators believe that the Congolese national army and its coalition bombarded the IDP camps intentionally, to re-escalated the international community’s pressure on M23 rebels who seized the town of Rubaya, a day before.

It would not be the first time Tshisekedi’s regime was caught acting this way. At least 56 civilians were shot dead, 220 injured while more than 60 were arrested on August 30, 2023, following a crackdown on anti-UN protests in Goma.

Congolese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Peter Kazadi defended the carnage. He told the Council of Ministers held on September 8, 2023, in Kinshasa, that the deployment of Rwandan special forces at the common border, a day before the protest targeting the UN mission in DRC (MONUSCO), raised questions.

The Congolese national army is very known for indiscipline, corruption, and weakness. It has for long worked with deadly militia groups which target civilians.

In early January, Congolese authorities arrested six soldiers accused of the indiscriminate killing of four civilians, in Mangina, near Beni.

The end of January saw the Congolese national army using drones and heavy artillery to bomb residential areas in Mweso, in Masisi Territory. The bombardment killed babies, women and men, and destroyed homes, churches and schools. At least 19 civilians were killed and 27 wounded.

The US is aware of this documented very bad record of the Congolese national army.

The M23 rebels are Congolese citizens fighting for their rights in their own country. Aligning them to Rwanda is irrational.

By siding with Kinshasa in blaming Rwanda for everything going wrong in DRC, the US is promoting Tshisekedi’s irresponsibility and impunity in the volatile country.

The head of the UN Mission in DRC, Bintou Keita, encouraged Congolese authorities to take the necessary measures to bring to book the perpetrators of the heinous acts, which she described as a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law and even a war crime.

She called on parties to conflicts to guarantee the civilian character of all sites for displaced people, and take appropriate measures to reduce the risks weighing on the protection of civilians and maintain humanitarian access.