What You Need to Know
Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, was killed in a drone strike by the Congolese army in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The attack occurred near Rubaya, a strategic mining area, amid ongoing clashes that have displaced hundreds of families. Efforts for a ceasefire continue, with mediation from Qatar.
Africa-Press. Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, was killed in a drone strike by the Congolese army in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to two senior officials from the group, a regional diplomat, and a Western government advisor.
One senior M23 official told a local source on Tuesday that the attack occurred near Rubaya, in North Kivu province, around 3 a.m. (01:00 GMT), following days of continuous drone strikes by the Congolese army in the area.
Rubaya is a strategic center for coltan mining, producing about 15% of the world’s supply, making it a key financial hub for the M23.
The Congolese government recently added the site to a shortlist of strategic mining assets presented to the United States as part of a minerals cooperation initiative.
Fighting Intensifies Despite Mediation Efforts
Civil society sources reported violent clashes in several areas near Rubaya since Sunday, forcing hundreds of families to flee the region.
Ngoma’s assassination comes amid ongoing ceasefire efforts mediated by Qatar, where Kinshasa and the M23 signed agreements in Doha to establish a joint mechanism for monitoring and verifying the ceasefire, with Qatar, the United States, and the African Union as observers.
Ngoma had been under European Union sanctions since December 2022 due to his role as a spokesperson for the M23. The Congolese presidency spokesperson declined to comment, and the Congolese army spokesperson did not immediately respond.
The M23, which the United Nations claims is supported by Rwanda, controls vast areas of North and South Kivu provinces following a rapid offensive last year, during which they seized the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The rebels briefly took control of the city of Uvira in December before the army regained it last month. Additionally, Congo reopened its borders with Burundi there on Monday.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, sent a joint exploratory assessment team to Uvira this week to support the implementation of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism agreed upon in Doha and to assess the security situation in the area.
The M23 rebel group has been active in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in North and South Kivu, where they have engaged in violent conflicts over control of mineral resources. The area is rich in coltan, a vital mineral for global electronics, making it a focal point for both local and international interests. The group has been accused of receiving support from Rwanda, complicating the regional dynamics and international responses to the conflict.
