Willy Ngoma, AFC/M23 Military Spokesperson, Killed in Drone Strike Near Rubaya

MASISI, North Kivu - February 24, 2026 - Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the AFC/M23 rebel group, was killed on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, during a drone strike attributed to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) near Rubaya, a strategic mining area in Masisi territory, eastern DRC. Ngoma’s death, confirmed by multiple sources within the rebel movement, marks the loss of a high-ranking member of AFC/M23, following the earlier killing of Magloire Paluku, amid escalating hostilities in eastern DRC. The increase in fighting coincides with intensified FARDC airstrikes, ground offensives by Wazalendo allies, and Angola’s perceived failure to enforce the ceasefire, according to the United Nations. Prior to Ngoma’s death, Bertrand Bisimwa, the second-in-command of AFC/M23, accused the Kinshasa government of violating the ceasefire since signing the Strategic Partnership Agreement with the United States. In statements on social media, Bisimwa condemned what he described as “assassinations and massacres of innocent civilians with impunity,” denouncing the government’s disregard for the peace process. Willy Ngoma had previously been sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for his role in serious human rights abuses, including murders and sexual violence against civilians, committed under the banner of the AFC/M23 rebel movement. His death underscores the intensifying conflict in North Kivu, reflecting the volatile security situation in eastern DRC and the continuing struggle between government forces, allied militias, and armed rebel groups in the region.