The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) has accused the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels of carrying out armed drone attacks against civilian areas in North and South Kivu provinces following the rebels’ latest territorial gains in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The accusations came after M23/AFC fighters captured the localities of Kakenke, Muko and Nyaruhinga in the highlands of Fizi Territory, South Kivu Province, on Sunday morning following intense fighting. The rebel movement later released videos and photographs showing its fighters in the newly captured areas. The three localities are considered strategically important, with military analysts saying their capture could open routes towards Baraka City and Tanganyika Province.
A day earlier, M23/AFC rebels, together with their Twirwaneho allies, captured Point Zero, a strategic hill overlooking key routes linking the highland town of Minembwe, the Mwenga Highlands and the lakeside town of Baraka along National Road No. 5. In a statement issued on Sunday, FARDC acting spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mak Hazukay Mongba alleged that between July 4 and 5, M23/AFC fighters, whom the Congolese military says are backed by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), used TB2 armed drones to strike several localities in North and South Kivu provinces.
According to FARDC, the alleged drone attacks targeted populated areas, resulting in civilian deaths, injuries and destruction of property. The army said one of the strikes in Baraka, South Kivu Province, killed and injured several civilians. The Congolese military also accused the rebels of arbitrarily arresting young civilians in areas under M23/AFC control on allegations of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
FARDC said civilians should never be targeted or subjected to reprisals, reaffirming its commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of its citizens. M23/AFC had not responded to the allegations by the time of publication. The Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebellion, an allegation both Rwanda and M23/AFC have repeatedly denied.
M23/AFC says its armed campaign seeks to address corruption, xenophobia and discrimination against certain communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group launched a renewed offensive across eastern DRC in early 2025, capturing several strategic towns and intensifying concerns over a broader regional conflict-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
