The strike marks the latest escalation in the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels have expanded control since January 2025, when they captured the cities of Goma and Bukavu. It remains unclear who carried out the strike.
Willy Ngoma, a spokesperson and senior officer for the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, was killed in a predawn drone strike near the mining town of Rubaya in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province on Tuesday, according to a United Nations official and a human rights group. The killing escalates tensions in a region already home to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, after peace negotiations between Congo and the M23 stalled.
Identity of Perpetrator Unclear
Rubaya residents told the Associated Press that the drone strike targeted a location that has served in recent weeks as an enclave for the M23. It was not immediately clear who carried out the strike.
Ceasefire in Collapse
Ngoma was deeply involved in M23’s operations as a senior officer for the Rwanda-backed rebel force. His death comes weeks after Congo and the M23 agreed to a ceasefire and established monitoring mechanisms with United Nations assistance. Both parties have since accused each other of violating the truce.
Years of Escalation and Displacement
The conflict intensified in January 2025 when M23 rebels captured the cities of Goma and Bukavu, expanding their control across the region. The decades-long conflict has displaced more than 7 million people and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
The drone strike is viewed by many in Congo as a setback to peace efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar have brokered peace efforts in the Congo conflict, but clashes have persisted despite ongoing diplomatic engagement.