GOMA, DR Congo — A high-ranking military commander from the M23 rebel group was killed in a drone strike early Tuesday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to multiple sources. The death deals a significant blow to the rebel movement amidst ongoing tensions over a shaky ceasefire.
Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma, the group's military spokesperson, was killed around 3:00 a.m. in a strike near the town of Rubaya in North Kivu province. The area is a strategic mining hub, known for producing a substantial portion of the world's coltan, a mineral critical for electronics.
The operation was reportedly carried out by drones belonging to the Congolese army (FARDC). While a senior M23 official and a regional diplomat confirmed Ngoma's death to the Reuters news agency, the exact number of other rebel officials killed in the same strike remains unclear.
Ceasefire Violations Accused
The killing occurred just hours after the M23's political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, accused the Kinshasa government of violating a fragile ceasefire. In a post on social media platform X, Kanyuka alleged that the Congolese military had "unleashed a total war across all front lines" and conducted "indiscriminate" bombings in and around Rubaya, which he claimed had "massacred innocent civilians."
Following Ngoma's death, the rebel group issued a formal obituary, condemning what it described as the government's "grave acts."
A Sanctioned Figure
Willy Ngoma was a prominent figure within the M23 leadership and had been under international sanctions for several years. He was placed on the European Union's sanctions list in December 2022 for his role as the group's spokesperson. In 2023, he was also designated by the United States government for alleged involvement in serious human rights abuses, including killings and acts of sexual violence.
His death marks one of the most significant losses for the M23 leadership in recent months and is likely to further escalate tensions in the mineral-rich but conflict-ravaged region.
