Wazalendo Expels MP Willy Mishiki After Goma Attack Admission

Goma, March 14, 2026 - The CNVDP-WAZ coalition, associated with the Wazalendo armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has expelled Member of Parliament Willy Mishiki Buhini after he publicly admitted involvement in a recent attack on Goma.

Mishiki, who represented Walikale territory in the DRC Parliament and served as President of the Council of Experts within the coalition, made the remarks during an interview with TV5 Monde on 11 March 2026.

In the interview, he stated that Wazalendo forces were fighting in Virunga National Park and had advanced to Nyiragongo, just a few kilometers from Goma, with the objective of retaking the city. He also acknowledged responsibility for the drone attack carried out in Goma in the early hours of 11 March, which killed three civilians, including French national Karine Buisset, an employee of UNICEF.

“We are fighting to retake Goma… that is the reason for this attack,” Mishiki said.

Following the statement, the CNVDP-WAZ leadership announced on 13 March that Mishiki had acted without consultation and had escalated tensions through his remarks. As a result, he was removed from his position and stripped of membership, with Katulanya Jacques appointed as his replacement.

Reacting to the development, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, said that dismissing Mishiki does not negate his admission. “You cannot erase a confession, especially when it is supported by evidence,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the French government has announced an investigation into the attack that killed one of its nationals.

The AFC/M23 coalition has also weighed in, alleging that the attack was carried out by DRC government forces, claiming it targeted political and military figures including Joseph Kabila, Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki, and Gen. Maj. Sultani Makenga.

The incident underscores the complex and contested narratives surrounding the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, particularly in and around Goma, where multiple armed groups and political actors remain active.