Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu Arrested
Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu, commander of the Third Military Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been arrested ahead of his transfer to Kinshasa, authorities confirmed.
Masunzu was detained on Sunday, November 2, in Kisangani, Tshopo Province, before being flown to the capital for further proceedings.
According to military sources, the general is accused of providing false intelligence to the Congolese armed forces and being responsible for the recent capture of Nzibira town in the Walungu Territory of South Kivu by the rebel group AFC/M23.
Originating from Minembwe in South Kivu, Masunzu has led the DRC’s Third Military Region—which spans North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema, Ituri, Tshopo, Bas-Uélé, and Haut-Uélé—since December 2024.
He is also allegedly behind a series of drone attacks targeting AFC/M23 positions in both Kivus, including areas populated by civilians. The attacks have heightened tensions in the eastern DRC, where clashes between government forces and armed groups have escalated in recent months.
Furthermore, Masunzu is accused of orchestrating a drone strike that killed Brigadier General Michel Rukunda, known as ‘Makanika,’ a former commander of the Twirwaneho militia tasked with protecting the Banyamulenge community.
