Fresh violence has shaken eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after a deadly military drone strike hit the strategic town of Rubaya, an area long known for its rich coltan deposits and ongoing clashes between AFC/M23 fighters and forces allied to the Kinshasa government.
According to information released on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at around 12:15 a.m., a CH4 combat drone targeted a densely populated section of Rubaya, causing civilian deaths and widespread destruction.
AFC/M23 described the attack as a deliberate assault against innocent civilians, accusing the Congolese government and its allied forces of carrying out what it called a “barbaric” operation.
In a statement, the movement declared: “AFC/M23 strongly condemns this horrific massacre orchestrated by the Kinshasa regime against innocent civilians.”
Reports circulating on social media indicated that one of the explosives struck a guest house where several people were believed to be staying at the time of the attack.
Residents described scenes of panic moments after the explosion, with terrified families fleeing into the darkness as heavy gunfire echoed around the outskirts of Rubaya.
The rebel alliance also called on Congolese citizens and the international community to document what it described as an ongoing war targeting populations living in areas under its control.
AFC/M23 further reiterated its commitment to “protecting civilians” in territories it administers.
The drone strike comes after days of escalating clashes around Rubaya, one of the most economically valuable towns in North Kivu due to its coltan mining industry.
On May 21, 2026, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka announced that Congolese government troops and Wazalendo militias had launched major offensives in the Katoyi sector of Masisi territory.
Kanyuka said the attacks followed earlier fighting reported on May 19 in Mitimingi and surrounding areas.
Heavy clashes were reported in Kinigi, Kawere, and Chugi, villages located roughly 30 kilometers from Rubaya. Government forces claimed control over some of those areas, although AFC/M23 did not publicly confirm or deny the claims.
By the morning of May 22, fighting had intensified again near Chugi, Kavuta, and the hills surrounding Kinigi, highlighting the growing battle for control over mining routes and strategic positions around Rubaya.
As combat spreads, civilians continue to flee in large numbers. Many families have abandoned farms, businesses, and livestock while searching for safer areas away from the frontlines.
Humanitarian concerns are also mounting, with reports that displaced residents are struggling to access food, clean water, and medical assistance.
Rubaya has remained a major flashpoint since AFC/M23 captured the town in May 2024 after pushing out Congolese forces, Burundian troops, and Wazalendo groups that previously controlled much of the mining activity in the area.
The strategic town has since become one of the most contested territories in eastern Congo, with both sides viewing it as critical not only for military positioning but also for the lucrative mineral trade that fuels the regional economy.
The current escalation also revives memories of the February 2026 battles near Rubaya, during which AFC/M23 military spokesperson Lt Col Willy Ngoma and several of his bodyguards were killed.
Following his death, AFC/M23 warned that what it described as continued “provocations” by the Congolese government would no longer be tolerated.
