Colonel Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance and the M23 rebel movement, is reportedly dead after a drone strike carried out by Congolese government forces on Tuesday morning.
Several media outlets in the Democratic Republic of Congo indicate that the strike occurred in Rubaya, located in North Kivu province, and that Ngoma was among those killed. However, M23 has not officially confirmed the reports. On its verified social media platform, the group shared a black image accompanied by a broken-heart emoji hours after the alleged incident.
Earlier statements from M23 acknowledged that their positions had come under drone attack but did not disclose any casualties.
Sources familiar with the situation claim that the strike specifically targeted Col Ngoma, who had become one of the most recognisable figures within the rebel movement. Beyond serving as spokesperson, he was widely viewed as a central figure in shaping M23’s military planning and public messaging. He frequently addressed the media and appeared in public briefings, effectively becoming the face of the group’s armed wing.
The reported attack is said to have taken place in the early hours near Rubaya, a mineral-rich and strategically vital area that has been at the centre of fighting in North Kivu.
Ngoma rose to prominence during M23’s renewed offensive in eastern Congo beginning in 2021, as the group expanded its control across territories in both North and South Kivu provinces. In January 2025, M23 fighters captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu, before pushing into Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, weeks later—moves that significantly altered the balance of power in the conflict.
The rebels later advanced toward Uvira in December 2025 but subsequently pulled back amid mounting international diplomatic pressure.
In addition to his communications role, Ngoma was considered a senior strategist within the movement. His influence drew international scrutiny, and he was placed under sanctions by the United Nations Security Council and other global bodies for his alleged involvement in planning and supporting armed activities linked to instability and human rights violations in eastern Congo.
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