A drone strike in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week killed M23 military spokesperson Willy Ngoma and at least eight other people, in what marks a significant escalation in the conflict.
According to four sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the strike occurred near Rubaya, a strategic mining hub in North Kivu controlled by the M23 rebel movement. Rubaya produces roughly 15% of the world’s coltan supply and was recently included on a shortlist of mining assets being offered by the Congolese government to the United States under a minerals cooperation framework.
The strike reportedly narrowly missed M23’s military commander, Sultani Makenga, who escaped unharmed. Sources indicated that Makenga had been in the area shortly before the drone attack.
Nine bodies were transported from the strike site to Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo. A senior military official told Reuters that at least seven additional bodies could not be retrieved as they had been reduced to ashes.
The M23 movement has not officially commented on the strike. A spokesperson for the Congolese army also did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Wazalendo — a loose coalition of self-defense groups fighting alongside the Congolese army — claimed in a statement that Makenga fled to a nearby church following the strike.
Meanwhile, fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese government forces, supported by Wazalendo fighters, continued on Wednesday in Masisi territory, residents told Reuters.
In a series of posts on X, M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused Congolese forces of triggering what he described as a “total war across all front lines” in several parts of North and South Kivu provinces.
The killing of Ngoma removes one of the most visible figures within the M23 leadership and is expected to further heighten tensions in a conflict that has already displaced thousands and drawn regional and international concern.
