Ongoing Violence in Eastern DRC: Congolese Military Intensifies Aerial and Drone Strikes on M23 Rebels Around Key Mining Areas Like Rubaya
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains engulfed in one of the world’s most protracted and deadly conflicts, with the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) rebels clashing repeatedly with government forces (FARDC) and allied militias. As of March 13, 2026, violence has surged despite multiple ceasefire agreements, with the Congolese military ramping up aerial and drone operations targeting M23 positions, particularly around the strategically vital coltan mining hub of Rubaya in North Kivu’s Masisi territory.
This escalation marks a shift toward more sophisticated warfare in the region, where control over mineral resources—especially coltan, which supplies around 15% of global demand and generates hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly for M23—fuels much of the fighting. The conflict has displaced millions, exacerbated humanitarian crises, and drawn international condemnation over persistent ceasefire violations.
Background: Roots of the Current Escalation
The M23, which resurfaced in 2022 after years of dormancy, launched major offensives in 2025, capturing key cities including Goma (the provincial capital of North Kivu) and briefly holding others like Bukavu and Uvira. Backed by Rwanda—accusations repeatedly denied by Kigali but supported by UN experts and Western governments—the group has consolidated control over vast mineral-rich territories, smuggling resources across the border.
Ceasefire efforts, including U.S.-brokered talks in Washington, Angolan-mediated deals, and Doha agreements, have repeatedly faltered. A February 2026 truce quickly unraveled, with mutual accusations of violations. By late February, fighting resumed intensely, and March has seen continued breaches, prompting joint statements from the U.S., EU, and others expressing “profound concern” over ongoing hostilities and calling for recommitment to negotiations.
Intensified Aerial Campaign: Drone Strikes Target M23 Leadership and Positions
A defining feature of recent operations has been the FARDC’s increased use of drones and airstrikes—the highest monthly tally ever recorded in the DRC, according to ACLED data for February 2026. This aerial surge supports ground advances by FARDC and pro-government Wazalendo militias into M23-held areas in Masisi, Mwenga, and Fizi territories.
Key developments include:
- On February 24, 2026, a targeted FARDC drone strike near Rubaya killed M23 military spokesperson Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma and several high-ranking leaders during a meeting. Ngoma, a prominent public face of the rebellion, was the most senior figure eliminated by air since early 2024. The strike hit either a convoy or a hilltop building used for leadership gatherings.
- Follow-up drone attacks targeted M23 positions around Rubaya in late February and early March, helping FARDC and allies recapture villages like Kazinga (about 20 km northwest of Rubaya) and push on multiple front lines toward Masisi town, Rubaya, and Ngungu.
- In a dramatic escalation, drone strikes hit Goma itself on March 11, 2026—the first such attacks in the M23-controlled city since its fall in 2025. Blasts in residential neighborhoods, including Himbi, killed at least three people, including a French UN aid worker. M23 blamed the FARDC, accusing Kinshasa of targeting civilians in densely populated areas. The UN and witnesses reported damage to humanitarian sites.
These operations aim to disrupt M23 command structures and reclaim lucrative mining zones. Rubaya remains a flashpoint: M23 controls the site, but government forces have intensified assaults, especially after it was floated as a strategic asset in U.S.-DRC mineral talks amid broader efforts to “de-risk” investments in conflict zones.
Ceasefire Violations and Mutual Accusations
Despite international pressure, violations persist. In early March, the U.S. accused Rwanda of breaching ceasefires by continuing support for M23, imposing sanctions on Rwandan military elements. Rwanda has countered by alleging Congolese backing for anti-Rwandan militias like the FDLR. M23 and FARDC trade claims daily: rebels accuse government forces of initiating attacks to sabotage talks, while Kinshasa says M23 seeks to consolidate gains.
Humanitarian fallout is severe. Recent incidents include mass graves discovered near Uvira (with 171 bodies reported in February), ongoing displacement (hundreds of thousands more since late 2025), and deadly mining accidents—like a catastrophic landslide at Rubaya in late January/early February killing over 200 artisanal miners amid heavy rains and unregulated operations under rebel control.
Broader Implications and International Response
The fighting underscores the conflict’s resource-driven nature. Eastern DRC’s minerals—coltan, gold, tin—fund armed groups and neighboring states, complicating peace. U.S. involvement has focused on critical minerals access, with proposals to secure sites like Rubaya, but instability hinders progress.
Human rights groups document abuses by all sides: civilian killings, forced recruitment, sexual violence, and restrictions on aid. The UN’s MONUSCO mission monitors ceasefires but faces limitations in South Kivu areas.
As March 2026 unfolds, the situation remains volatile. Aerial warfare has reshaped dynamics, giving FARDC momentum but risking more civilian harm. Without genuine troop withdrawals, accountability, and regional de-escalation—particularly Rwanda-DRC dialogue—the cycle of violence in eastern DRC shows little sign of ending, perpetuating one of the globe’s worst humanitarian disasters.
Sources: ACLED March 2026 Overview, Reuters, The Guardian, Africanews, Critical Threats Project, and UN reports. The conflict evolves rapidly—monitor trusted outlets for real-time updates.
