FARDC Drone Strikes Target AFC/M23 Positions in Kishusha Near Rubaya

MASISI, North Kivu February 24, 2026 - The security situation remains highly tense in Masisi territory after the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) carried out drone strikes against AFC/M23 rebel positions early Tuesday morning in Kishusha, a locality located near the strategic mining town of Rubaya. The operation reportedly took place at around 4:00 a.m., when a military drone launched strikes on positions held by AFC/M23 fighters in the area, which has witnessed intense clashes in recent days. Residents reported powerful explosions that could be heard as far as Rubaya, triggering panic among the local population. Several families, already living under the strain of ongoing insecurity, spent the early hours of the morning fearing a possible escalation of fighting in the area. For now, no official casualty figures have been released. Information from the ground indicates that assessments are underway to determine the extent of human and material damage caused by the strikes. The drone operation comes amid renewed clashes between AFC/M23 rebels and FARDC forces, supported by Wazalendo fighters, around Rubaya and in several other localities of Masisi territory, highlighting the continued volatility of the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.