Ongoing Conflict Updates in Eastern DRC: Congolese Military Intensifies Operations Against M23 Rebels Around Rubaya Mine
By Joseph | Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
March 17, 2026
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a volatile theater of conflict, with the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) rebel group and government forces locked in a cycle of violence fueled by control over lucrative mineral resources. In recent weeks, particularly throughout February and into March 2026, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) have significantly escalated operations targeting M23 positions in the strategic Rubaya area of North Kivu province, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) regional overview for March.
Rubaya, a key coltan (tantalum ore) mining hub supplying approximately 15% of the global market, has become a focal point of the fighting. The site generates substantial revenue—estimated at least $800,000 monthly—for whoever controls it, making it a prime economic prize in the broader insurgency. M23, widely accused by the UN and Western governments of receiving support from Rwanda (which denies the claims), seized Rubaya in May 2024 and has maintained de facto control despite ongoing pressure.
ACLED data highlights that February 2026 recorded the highest number of air and drone strikes ever documented in eastern DRC. FARDC drones and aerial bombardments have repeatedly targeted M23 positions near Rubaya, resulting in significant rebel casualties. Notable incidents include a February 24 drone strike that reportedly killed M23 military spokesperson Willy Ngoma and several senior commanders. The rebels have retaliated with their own kamikaze drone attacks, including one on the FARDC’s Kisangani military command center, signaling a dangerous escalation in aerial warfare capabilities on both sides.
The intensified military campaign comes amid fragile and repeatedly violated ceasefires negotiated under various frameworks, including the Doha process mediated by Qatar and the 2025 Washington Accords. A joint statement from the United States, European Union, and other partners on March 5 expressed profound concern over “continued and recent” ceasefire breaches, urging all parties to recommit to dialogue and halt hostilities. Despite these calls, clashes persist, with FARDC and allied Wazalendo militias pushing to reclaim territory around Rubaya and nearby areas like Masisi.
The conflict’s human and humanitarian toll remains staggering. Recent tragedies underscore the dangers in rebel-held mining zones: In early March, a major landslide at one of Rubaya’s poorly maintained shafts killed over 200 people (possibly including many children), according to the DRC Ministry of Mines—though M23 disputed the figure, claiming far fewer deaths and attributing the collapse partly to government attacks. Earlier incidents in January and June 2025 also claimed hundreds of lives in similar collapses, highlighting chronic issues of unregulated artisanal mining, child labor, environmental degradation, and lack of safety standards under rebel administration.
Geopolitically, Rubaya’s strategic value has drawn international attention. In February 2026, the DRC government included the rebel-held site on a shortlist of strategic mining assets offered to the United States under a proposed minerals partnership aimed at securing traceable, conflict-free tantalum supplies compliant with U.S. procurement rules. This move signals Kinshasa’s push for stronger U.S. involvement to counter M23 influence and “de-risk” investments in war-zone minerals. Analysts note that Chinese firms currently dominate much of the supply chain with lighter compliance burdens, but U.S. engagement could shift dynamics—if political and security hurdles are overcome.
The broader eastern DRC conflict involves multiple armed groups, foreign-backed militias, and competition over resources like coltan, gold, and tin. M23’s advances since its 2021 resurgence have displaced millions, exacerbated food insecurity, and triggered widespread human rights abuses, including looting, forced recruitment, and sexual violence. UN reports and groups like the Oakland Institute criticize symbolic sanctions (such as recent U.S. measures on Rwanda) as insufficient without addressing root causes, including alleged Rwandan support for M23 and the massive financial flows sustaining the insurgency.
As March progresses, the FARDC’s focus on Rubaya reflects a determination to disrupt M23’s economic base and regain momentum ahead of any renewed peace talks. However, with aerial warfare reshaping the battlefield and ceasefires crumbling, civilians in North Kivu bear the brunt—facing displacement, blocked aid access, and the constant threat of violence.
The international community, including the UN Security Council (which held closed consultations on March 17 amid reports of a deadly drone strike in Goma killing a UNICEF worker and others), continues to monitor closely. Progress toward a verifiable ceasefire and the operationalization of the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism (COVM) remains elusive, but the stakes—regional stability, global mineral supply chains, and millions of lives—demand urgent, sustained diplomatic pressure.
Juba Global News Network will continue tracking developments in eastern DRC as the situation evolves.
Sources: ACLED Africa Overview March 2026, BBC, Reuters, The Africa Report, UN reports, France 24, Al Jazeera, and local Congolese authorities.
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