Tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda escalated further on Tuesday after the Congolese army, FARDC, announced that it had shot down what it described as a Rwandan military drone allegedly operating inside Congolese airspace without authorization.
The development came as AFC/M23 also accused coalition forces aligned with the Kinshasa government of launching major military offensives in parts of Masisi territory, claiming civilians were caught under attacks involving combat drones and heavy artillery.
In a statement released on Tuesday, FARDC said the drone was brought down in the Point Zéro area of South Kivu Province.
The Congolese military described the incident as a serious provocation and accused Rwanda of attempting to destabilize the country.
The statement read: “A Rwandan military drone that violated the airspace of the Democratic Republic of Congo was successfully neutralized by FARDC forces in Point Zéro, South Kivu Province.”
FARDC further described the alleged incursion as “a clear act of provocation” and “another attempt to undermine the stability of the Congolese state.”
The army added that its forces remain on high alert and fully prepared to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC against what it called foreign aggression and hostile activities.
So far, neither the Rwandan government nor the Rwanda Defence Force has issued an official response to the allegations made by FARDC regarding the reported drone incident.
Meanwhile, AFC/M23 announced that from 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, “Kinshasa coalition forces” launched heavy attacks in several areas of Masisi.
According to the group, the attacks targeted densely populated civilian areas including Mitimingi, Gatoyi and surrounding villages.
AFC/M23 said combat drones and heavy weapons were used during the assaults, accusing the Congolese government of endangering civilians as fighting intensifies in eastern Congo.
The movement also criticized Kinshasa for continuing to prioritize military operations instead of pursuing political solutions to the conflict, warning that the escalating violence could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The latest accusations come amid growing instability across eastern DRC, where clashes involving FARDC, AFC/M23 and allied armed groups continue to fuel insecurity and displacement.
Regional observers warn that the increasing use of drones and heavy artillery in populated areas could deepen civilian suffering, trigger new waves of displacement and further destabilize the wider Great Lakes region.
As FARDC accuses Rwanda of violating Congolese airspace, AFC/M23 continues to blame Kinshasa for military operations it says are putting civilians at risk, underscoring the deepening tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
