Gambiaj.com – (RUBAYA, DRC) – Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson of the AFC/M23 rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was killed early Tuesday morning near the town of Rubaya in Masisi territory, North Kivu province, a senior rebel official confirmed.
Ngoma and several other members of the rebel movement were struck under circumstances that remain unclear. Local sources said the convoy carrying them was targeted by a drone strike.
Drone attacks have been reported in the area since Monday along one of the main combat axes identified by the AFC/M23. The final death toll has not yet been confirmed.
The rebel movement, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting, blamed the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) for intensifying attacks in North and South Kivu over the past ten days.
One of the key areas cited is Rubaya, a strategic town in Masisi territory known for its significant coltan deposits, a mineral essential to the global electronics industry.
Ngoma was a prominent and highly visible figure within the rebellion, serving as both its military spokesperson and public face.
Often dressed in military fatigues and carrying an assault rifle, he regularly appeared on the front lines when towns fell under rebel control. He was frequently photographed at symbolic locations such as airports, monuments, and markets, and he held rallies in Swahili to connect with local communities.
He was also known for producing propaganda videos, including footage of captured FARDC soldiers being interrogated. In January 2025, he appeared in Goma, confronting mercenaries fighting alongside Congolese forces, and in February 2025, he attended a rally in Bukavu that was hit by explosions, although he escaped unharmed at the time.
Ngoma had been under international sanctions. In December 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on him over his alleged role in serious human rights abuses, including killings and sexual violence against civilians. Washington cited incidents in November 2022 in Kishishe, North Kivu. The rebel movement denied the accusations.
He was also sanctioned by the European Union in 2022, which said his leadership role in the Rwanda-backed movement contributed to instability and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ngoma is among several senior figures and allies of the AFC/M23 reportedly killed in recent drone strikes. Others include Élisée Mberabagabo, also known as Castro, and Michel Rukunda, alias Makanika, who was presented as the leader of the Twiraneho group allied to the rebellion.
His death marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, where fighting between government forces and rebel groups has escalated amid growing use of drone warfare.
