The Deadly February Attack on AFC/M23 Leadership in Masisi: What Really Happened

Kigali, March 8, 2026 - Since late February 2026, the DRC army and allied Wazalendo groups have intensified attacks on AFC/M23 positions in Masisi territory, targeting the coltan-rich Rubaya area. These operations have involved heavy weapons and drones, as clashes continue in the region.

On February 23, senior AFC/M23 officers, including Gen Maj Sultani Makenga, Brig Gen Gaceri Musanga, Col Japhet Gakufe, and Lt Col Willy Ngoma, visited Rubaya to boost the morale of their fighters. That day ended with the DRC coalition failing to capture Rubaya, though they continued attacks in Bahunde chiefdom, including Gatoyi, Gasenyi, and Kinigi.

According to AFC/M23 sources, the leaders decided to spend the night near Rubaya at barracks located in the pasture of Brig Gen Innocent Gahizi. Around 8:00 a.m. on February 24, Gen Maj Makenga rested at Mater Dei Catholic Church in Matanda, while other officers remained in the pasture barracks.

Lt Col Willy Ngoma, the military spokesman, was killed during a targeted attack on the barracks. The coalition’s deputy spokesman, Dr. Oscar Balinda, stated: “They came to shoot at our military spokesman, they shot him in the barracks where he was. It was a house, not on the road-a place where they were staying to stop attacks coming from Walikale.”

Rumors circulated that Gen Maj Makenga had been injured or killed, but AFC/M23 sources confirmed he was alive and on duty. Dr. Balinda emphasized, “He arrived at the battlefield, left, and went to other duties. He was not there when this happened. He is alive, he is on duty.”

On March 2, Gen Maj Makenga was seen at Rumangabo military base in Rutshuru, where he inducted 1,518 new fighters into AFC/M23. Addressing them, he stressed that their mission was to remove incompetent leaders in Kinshasa, restore stability, and support displaced Congolese. “Are you ready to remove Tshisekedi and these ignorant people working with him? Do you refuse to lead with bandits?” he asked, before affirming the group’s commitment to their cause.

Following the February attack, AFC/M23 vowed to continue targeting DRC government assets, including Bangoka airport in Kisangani, aiming to destroy drones used against its bases and hold the DRC government accountable for the deaths of its soldiers, including Lt Col Ngoma.

The clashes in North Kivu and South Kivu, particularly in Masisi, continue to highlight the intense conflict between AFC/M23 and DRC forces, with each side asserting its operational capabilities in self-defense and territorial control.