One person lost their life, and 11 individuals sustained injuries as a result of an accidental explosion of a rocket-propelled grenade held by a Congolese soldier.

The incident occurred when the vehicle the soldier was in struck an object on the road, near Unity Stadium in Goma.

The casualties included civilians and the soldier himself, and they are currently receiving medical treatment at the local provincial hospital.

The governor of North Kivu, Maj Gen Cirimwami Nkuba Peter, conveyed his condolences to the affected families and urged the public to remain calm during what has been a tense period.

Since early September, a military court has been conducting hearings related to the killing of at least 50 civilians the previous month.

Six soldiers and officers from the elite presidential guard are facing charges in connection with this incident, which occurred during a crackdown on a planned peaceful protest against UN peacekeepers in Goma. Human Rights Watch criticized the action as "extremely callous" and "unlawful."

Since 2021, the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have been under the supervision of security forces, with civilian authorities replaced by the military and police. This move was implemented to combat armed groups operating in the region.