AFC/M23 Adviser Magloire Paluku Shot Dead in Goma
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Former journalist and prominent cultural figure Magloire Paluku Kavunga, who later became a cultural adviser within the AFC/M23 movement, was shot dead on Wednesday evening in Goma, in an incident that has sent shockwaves through North Kivu’s political and media circles.
Authorities in Goma confirmed the killing but have not yet released official details on the circumstances or suspects. Paluku, 58, was reportedly returning from an evening engagement when unknown gunmen opened fire. He died on the spot.
A Media Icon Turned Rebel Adviser
Born on 12 December 1966 in Butembo, Paluku was widely known as one of North Kivu’s most influential media entrepreneurs.
He founded Radio Kivu 1 and Kivu 1 Television, platforms that shaped political debate and cultural identity in the region for decades. Beyond journalism, he was a respected writer, poet, actor and musician.
After serving in the DRC Ministry of Culture, Paluku made the controversial move in 2025 to join the AFC/M23 rebel administration as a Communications and Cultural Adviser, placing him inside one of eastern Congo’s most polarising political groups.
Sources in Goma say disagreements between Paluku and the AFC/M23’s leadership had become increasingly visible in recent months.
He reportedly clashed with the rebel governor over communication strategy and influence within the civil administration.
Feeling unsafe, Paluku is said to have requested an armed security escort, but the rebel authorities allegedly refused to provide one.
His killing now casts a stark light on the tensions he had previously raised.
Community sentiment, particularly among the Nande population, has been swift and forceful, with many interpreting the assassination as consistent with long-standing inter-communal distrust and power struggles inside the rebel administration.
However, the M23 issued a statement, condemning Paluku’s killing.
The rebels said they would investigate the matter and hold perpetrators accountable.
Though no evidence has been publicly presented and AFC/M23 has not issued a formal response, the perception alone is reshaping political conversations across the province.
The killing could severely damage AFC/M23’s standing at a pivotal moment.
It risks undermining the movement’s already fragile legitimacy in Nande-majority regions such as Butembo, Beni and Lubero.
The fallout could heighten communal tensions, provoke retaliatory hostility, and complicate the group’s attempts to present itself as a viable governing authority.
Paluku had served as a rare bridge figure between the rebellion’s leadership and communities historically sceptical of Rwandophone-led movements.
Paluku’s assassination ends the life of a man who shaped North Kivu’s media, culture and political identity for more than three decades.
From founding influential radio and television platforms to navigating the complex world of rebel governance, his trajectory reflected the region’s contradictions—creativity amid crisis, influence amid insecurity.
He died two days before what would have been his 59th birthday.
