The M23 rebel movement has accused the Congolese government of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement while highlighting what it describes as a double standard in the international community’s response to conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bertrand Bisimwa, president of the M23 and deputy coordinator of the Allied Forces of Congo/M23 (AFC/M23), said the Kinshasa government had launched “a generalised offensive across all front lines and beyond,” describing the operation as “coordinated and extensive,” and reflecting “a deliberate choice of the military option.”
“We also cannot help but note with deep concern the absence, at this stage, of any clear and visible initiative aimed at securing the immediate halt of this government offensive. No public reprimand, no condemnation,” Bisimwa said.
“No perceptible action appears to have been taken to prevent the risk of escalation. This silence stands in stark contrast to the swift reactions observed whenever our movement is compelled to exercise its legitimate right to defense in the face of direct attacks.”
The comments come in the wake of a drone strike allegedly carried out by Congolese government forces against M23 positions near Rubaya in North Kivu, which local reports suggest killed Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma, a senior M23 commander and military spokesperson.
As well as Ngoma, the Wazalendo militia have claimed the attack injured M23 military commander Major General Sultani Makenga, who is reported to have arrived in Rubaya on Monday, just hours before the targeted attack.
Ngoma, widely regarded as one of the group’s most visible military strategists and public communicators, was instrumental in planning operations and articulating M23’s positions to media outlets.
As news of his death filtered in on Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) briefly released a social media statement claiming that “the terrorist Willy Ngoma was successfully neutralised during military operations,” before deleting the post.
The move has been interpreted by observers as an implicit acknowledgment of a ceasefire breach.
FARDC collaboraters, including the Wazalendo militia, later claimed responsibility for the drone strike.
Congolese war correspondent Steve Wembi, citing unnamed high-ranking M23 sources, reported that Ngoma was targeted in the early hours of February 24, 2026, in Rubaya, a mining hub of strategic importance.
While M23 has not officially confirmed Ngoma’s death, their social media page posted a black image with a broken-heart emoji hours after the reports emerged.
Ngoma rose to prominence alongside M23’s resurgence in eastern Congo from 2021, when the group reclaimed territory across North and South Kivu.
In late 2025, M23 forces briefly seized Goma and advanced toward Bukavu, later withdrawing under international diplomatic pressure.
Ngoma’s operational leadership led to his inclusion on United Nations Security Council sanctions lists for planning and supporting armed activities contributing to instability in the region.
Observers note that the alleged targeting of a senior M23 commander underscores the asymmetry in responses: M23 says international actors rapidly condemn its offensive actions but remain largely silent when government forces launch attacks.
The group views this as a persistent imbalance that fuels distrust and complicates efforts toward a sustainable ceasefire.
Rubaya has fallen silent. But the mood is cloudy with fears that the death of Ngoma could significantly influence both the military dynamics and diplomatic negotiations in eastern Congo, potentially intensifying conflict at a time when the M23 emphasizes the need for equitable attention from international mediators.