AFC/M23 Warns of Response After Alleged Drone Bombardment of Minembwe
MINEMBWE, South Kivu – The AFC/M23 coalition has accused forces allied with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of carrying out overnight attacks on densely populated areas in Minembwe, South Kivu Province.
In a statement released on Thursday, AFC/M23 alleged that between the night of June 3 and the morning of June 4, 2026, government-aligned forces intensified attacks on the localities of Gakenke, Bidegu, and Mikenke.
According to the statement, the attacks took place from approximately 7:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. and involved the use of kamikaze drones and KT-6 drones targeting areas inhabited by civilians.
AFC/M23 said it had previously warned the Kinshasa government about what it described as the serious humanitarian consequences of such operations. The group claimed that previous attacks had resulted in civilian deaths, destruction of property, and the displacement of thousands of residents.
The coalition further stated that both Congolese authorities and the international community had been informed of its concerns regarding the attacks.
The statement did not provide casualty figures or details of damage caused by the latest reported strikes. Independent verification of the claims was not immediately available.
In recent weeks, AFC/M23 has warned that it would no longer limit its actions to defending areas under its control, stating that it could take additional measures to push government forces farther from their current positions if attacks continued.
