The rebel group AFC/M23 has officially confirmed the death of its senior military spokesperson, Colonel Willy Ngoma, four days after he was reportedly killed in a drone strike in eastern Congo.
In a communiqué dated February 28, 2026, the Alliance Fleuve Congo / Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) announced that Ngoma died on February 24 during what it described as a targeted drone attack carried out by the Congolese army.
The strike reportedly occurred near Rubaya in North Kivu, an area that has witnessed intense fighting in recent weeks.
The statement, signed by Lawrence Kanyuka, head of the movement’s communications department, accused the government in Kinshasa of violating the ceasefire and escalating hostilities through aerial strikes.
The group claimed the attack not only killed Ngoma but also affected civilians in surrounding areas.
Ngoma served as both the military spokesperson and a senior officer within the group’s armed wing, the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC).
His death marks one of the most significant losses for M23 in the latest phase of fighting in North Kivu.
The four-day delay in confirming his death had fueled speculation, as government sources had earlier announced that the army had “neutralized” a senior M23 commander during operations in the east. The rebel group’s formal acknowledgement appears aimed at clarifying his fate and addressing circulating reports.
In its communiqué, AFC/M23 listed several towns in North and South Kivu where it alleges ceasefire violations and civilian casualties have occurred. The group maintained that it remains committed to the peace process, while vowing to protect civilians and its fighters.
The Congolese army has not issued a new statement in response to the communiqué, but it has previously maintained that its operations are aimed at restoring state authority and countering rebel advances in mineral-rich territories.
Ngoma’s death comes at a delicate moment in ongoing regional and international mediation efforts intended to stabilize eastern Congo, where renewed clashes have strained fragile ceasefire arrangements.
Fighting continues to be reported in parts of North Kivu, underscoring the volatility of the security situation despite diplomatic interventions.