Government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have launched drone strikes against M23 rebels in the country’s east, targeting areas around a strategic mining site, according to security and local sources.
Fighting on Wednesday was concentrated near the town of Rubaya in North Kivu province, where a drone strike reportedly hit M23 positions a day earlier.
Rubaya is home to one of the world’s most important sources of coltan, a mineral widely used in the production of electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops. The mine is estimated to account for between 15% and 30% of global supply.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe M23 group, which the United Nations and several Western governments say is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, has captured large areas of eastern DR Congo since re-emerging in 2021. It seized control of the Rubaya mining area in April 2024.
The group’s advance has intensified a long-running conflict in the region, where multiple armed groups and foreign interests have competed for control of valuable mineral resources for decades.
Local militias allied with government forces were also reported to have carried out attacks along several front-line positions in North Kivu, particularly in Masisi territory, where Rubaya is located.
Residents described panic in the area following the drone strike, with access to the affected site reportedly restricted.
Clashes were also reported in the highlands of South Kivu, where Congolese troops are battling a coalition of militias linked to the M23.
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The escalation comes despite diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. A ceasefire proposed by Angola earlier this month has failed to halt hostilities, while the United States has been involved in mediation between DR Congo and Rwanda.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo, now spanning more than three decades, remains one of Africa’s most complex and prolonged crises.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
