U.S. Condemns FARDC Drone Attack in Mushaki
The United States has condemned a deadly drone attack carried out in Mushaki, an area located in Masisi Territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, calling on all parties involved in the conflict to respect ceasefire commitments and protect civilians.
The attack occurred on Friday, May 8, in Mushaki, North Kivu Province, leaving several civilians injured and causing significant destruction to residential homes.
According to the AFC/M23 rebel movement, the attack was allegedly carried out by forces loyal to the Kinshasa government. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated that the strikes also resulted in civilian deaths.
Images released by AFC/M23 showed wounded civilians receiving medical treatment following the drone strikes, with several houses reportedly damaged during the incident.
In a statement issued through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, Washington condemned both the Mushaki drone attack and separate killings reported near the city of Uvira in South Kivu Province.
“The United States condemns today’s drone attack in Mushaki, North Kivu, as well as the killings near Uvira in South Kivu. All parties must exercise maximum restraint, implement their ceasefire commitments, protect civilians, and prioritize dialogue and de-escalation,” the statement said.
However, the United States stopped short of directly accusing the Congolese government or its armed forces of carrying out the Mushaki strikes.
The reaction from Washington sparked criticism among some social media users, many of whom questioned why the U.S. was calling on “all parties” to exercise restraint while, according to critics, one side continues to face repeated attacks.
