Tensions are rapidly escalating in the highlands of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after the AFC/M23 coalition accused the Congolese government and allied armed groups of preparing a large-scale military offensive targeting Minembwe and surrounding areas in South Kivu Province.
The allegations come as fighting intensifies across several localities in the region, with residents reporting increased aerial activity and the movement of heavy military equipment near populated areas.
According to AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, authorities in Kinshasa ordered the deployment of combat helicopters from the city of Kalemie to South Kivu on the morning of May 15, 2026.
Kanyuka stated that the helicopters are being added to an already significant military arsenal allegedly used in recent operations around Minembwe, including armed drones, heavy artillery and Sukhoi-25 fighter aircraft.
“DR Congo’s government has a plan to erase Minembwe from the map and exterminate the population living there,” Kanyuka said, accusing foreign allies of shielding Kinshasa politically while remaining silent over attacks targeting civilians.
AFC/M23 further declared that as long as the international community continues to ignore what it described as ongoing aggression, the movement would continue defending civilians “through all possible means.”
The latest accusations follow military operations carried out on May 14 in the areas of Kalingi, Gakenke, Bidegu and Rugezi, where drones, Sukhoi-25 warplanes and ground troops were reportedly involved. Local sources say fear has spread among residents, with many families fleeing toward remote hills and neighboring villages.
Bertrand Bisimwa, the coalition’s deputy leader in charge of political affairs, diplomacy and governance, warned that continued silence from mediators and international partners could jeopardize ongoing ceasefire efforts.
“It’s unacceptable that mediators and sponsors of the peace process remain silent while Kinshasa continues its provocations. AFC/M23 cannot be expected to respect agreements alone when the other side does not,” Bisimwa stated.
His remarks reflect growing frustration within AFC/M23 over what it perceives as uneven international pressure during stalled peace initiatives aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo.
Earlier this month, on May 7, AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa addressed a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizing Washington’s approach toward the conflict.
In the letter, Nangaa argued that the United States has increasingly aligned itself with the Congolese government while publicly presenting itself as a neutral actor seeking peace in the Great Lakes region. He also linked a December 2025 minerals agreement between the United States and DR Congo to what he described as Kinshasa’s growing diplomatic protection despite ongoing military operations.
The renewed tensions highlight the fragile security situation in eastern Congo, where repeated clashes between armed actors continue to deepen humanitarian concerns. Analysts warn that the use of heavy weapons, combat aircraft and drones in densely inhabited areas risks worsening civilian displacement and instability across the region.
As Minembwe residents brace for possible new offensives, attention is once again turning toward regional mediators and international powers amid calls for stronger diplomatic intervention before the conflict spirals further out of control.
