The military spokesperson for the M23 rebel movement, Willy Ngoma, was killed in an army drone strike in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early on Tuesday (24 February), according to a regional diplomat, a senior rebel figure and a Western adviser to the government.
Two senior M23 officials, along with the regional diplomat and the Western adviser, said the strike hit a target near Rubaya in North Kivu at around 3 a.m., following several days of continuous drone operations by the Congolese army.
Rubaya, a major coltan-producing hub that supplies about 15% of global output, is considered one of M23’s core financial bases.
Kinshasa recently placed the site on a shortlist of strategic mining assets being offered to the U.S. under a minerals cooperation framework, adding to its significance amid the fighting.
Local civil society groups reported heavy clashes around Rubaya from Sunday onwards, prompting hundreds of families to flee as front lines shifted.
Ngoma’s killing comes amid Qatar-mediated efforts to secure a ceasefire. Kinshasa and M23 have signed agreements in Doha to establish a joint monitoring and verification mechanism, with Qatar, the U.S. and the African Union acting as observers.
Ngoma had been under European Union sanctions since December 2022 for his role as the group’s spokesperson.
The Congolese presidency declined to comment and the army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
M23, which the United Nations says receives support from Rwanda, controls extensive territory in North and South Kivu following a rapid offensive last year in which it captured the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The rebels briefly seized Uvira in December before Congolese forces recaptured the city last month. DR Congo reopened its border crossing with Burundi in Uvira on Monday.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission has deployed a joint exploratory assessment team to Uvira this week to help establish the Doha monitoring mechanism and assess the local security situation.
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More than 200 people died on Tuesday in a landslide triggered by heavy rains at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's mines ministry said on Wednesday.
Escalating clashes in South Kivu’s highlands are sending a rising flow of wounded to Fizi’s small general hospital, where staff warn they are running out of space and supplies as the conflict expands across remote areas.
More than 200 people were killed this week when a landslide caused part of the Rubaya coltan mine to collapse in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Sunday (1 February). The disaster struck a rebel-controlled mining area during the rainy season.
More than 200 people were killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, according to rebel-appointed provincial authorities who said the final toll is still being verified.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
Russia has imposed a fine of 35 million roubles (around $432,366) on the messaging platform Telegram for failing to remove content deemed illegal by the authorities, according to the Interfax news agency.
Madagascar's president, Michael Randrianirina announced the appointment of anti-corruption chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister, six days after dismissing the previous premier along with the entire cabinet.
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