AFC/M23 reports that Kinshasa aimed at Kabila and Nangaa in a drone strike in Goma
A rebel leader has claimed that an attack drone, which killed a UN worker in the eastern Congolese city of Goma on Wednesday, March 11, was aimed at assassinating former President Joseph Kabila and AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa.
Bertrand Bisimwa, the deputy coordinator of the AFC/M23, stated that the drone struck a house close to the homes of the two political figures.
“Considering the closeness of the bombed sites to the homes of specific political figures, it is evident that the former President of the Republic, Senator Joseph Kabila, and the Political Coordinator of the AFC/M23, Corneille Nangaa, were the intended targets,” Bisimwa stated in a post on X on Wednesday afternoon.
Kabila, who resigned from the presidency in early 2019, experienced a rift with his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, who has alleged that Kabila is supporting the movement led by Nangaa, the former head of the Congolese electoral commission (CENI).
Kabila, serving as a senator, faced trial for treason and war crimes in absentia, resulting in a life sentence handed down by a military tribunal in September 2025. He has rejected any allegations of misconduct and asserted that the judiciary has been influenced by political factors, claiming that these actions are part of a broader strategy to undermine his political influence and silence dissent against the current government.
Bisimwa charged the government in Kinshasa with deploying multiple drones over the city, characterizing it as an “assassination operation” rather than an effort to reclaim the city, which has been under rebel control since early 2025.
“The present circumstances are characterized by drone strikes from government forces, which have taken the lead in deploying multiple drones over the city of Goma,” Bisimwa stated.
“These drones are presently assaulting the city, aiming at particular individuals for assassination.” “Thus, this is an assassination operation, rather than an endeavor to seize control of a territory,” he stated.
The assault resulted in the deaths of three individuals, among them a French national employed by the UN children’s agency, UNICEF.
Bisimwa stated that the total number of victims had not yet been determined, as the attack was still in progress.
He expressed strong disapproval of the breach of a ceasefire that had been established between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23, with mediation from Qatar.
“We denounce this assassination operation, which is part of the ongoing violations of the ceasefire that the Kinshasa regime has committed since the outset of the process,” he stated.
Bisimwa also expressed concern over the lack of response from international partners engaged in the peace process, especially the United States, noting their silence regarding the alleged violations.
“We also condemn the inaction of the partners in the peace process, especially the mediators and the American facilitators, who have chosen to remain silent about these violations of the ceasefire,” he stated.
Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and the largest city in eastern DR Congo, had not seen significant attacks since late January when it came under the control of the rebel movement.
