Twelve victims of a deadly blast at a rally last week in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were laid to rest on Tuesday in a ceremony organized by newly appointed rebel authorities. The incident took place last Thursday in the city of Bukavu that has been under the control of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels since February.

Bukavu rises from chaos, but scars remain. Looters and rebels left devastation, yet merchants return, clinging to hope. As M23 advances, fear grips the region—will peace hold, or is worse to come?

The finger-pointing over the deadly incident has further inflamed tensions in eastern Congo - a political and ethnic tinder box - where a rebel advance this year has drawn in neighbouring armies, raising fears of a regional war.