A grenade expoded in a market in Sange town in South Kivu province in eastern DR Congo, killing at least five civilians and injuring several others on Thursday, January 29.

The AFC/M23 rebel movement blamed the government coalition for the attack in the town located about 30 kilometres north of Uvira city.

ALSO READ: DR Congo: Twirwaneho warns of govt attacks on Uvira, Minembwe highlands

AFC/M32 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a post on X that the grenade attack was carried out by government forces and their allies at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.

"A grenade was deliberately thrown into the midst of the civilian population, causing the death of five innocent people, including women, and injuring many others,” Kanyuka said, describing it as "a heinous crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

The coalition forces aligned with the Congolese forces (FARDC) include Burundian troops, the Kinshasa-backed Rwandan genocidal militia FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and mercenaries.

Kanyuka said around 7:45 p.m., another grenade was thrown at a speedboat that was stationed at the port in Sange on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

ALSO READ: AFC/M23 say they will not withdraw from Goma, Bukavu

In the same context of escalating insecurity since the AFC/M23 withdrew from Uvira on January 17, the rebel official saod two Banyamulenge women were abducted on the same day by Wazalendo militiamen, an act he said illustrated a broader strategy of terror, kidnappings, and unpunished crimes.

"In order to conceal these crimes and prevent any independent documentation, this regime deliberately cut off internet access in Uvira and its surroundings,” Kanyuka said.

ALSO READ: Banyamulenge group urges US Congress to condemn violence in Uvira

"The Kinshasa regime is solely and entirely responsible for these crimes,” Kanyuka said.

The reported attacks come at a time when the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 are expected to resume peace talks in Doha, Qatar.

According to the movement, its representatives were already in Qatar on Thursday, where they are set to meet with government negotiators in a bid to revive the dialogue.