Panic in Rubaya Telecom and mobile money outages after Ngoma's death

Rubaya, a mining town in Masisi territory in North Kivu, has been cut off from telecommunications since Tuesday, February 24, leaving residents without calls, messages, internet access or mobile money services, according to local accounts.

The disruption is rippling beyond day-to-day communications into the local economy. Residents cited the suspension of mobile money transfers often the main channel for payments and remittances in remote areas alongside stalled trade and business activity. Some people reportedly travel about 10 kilometers to Bihambwe or climb surrounding hills to find a weak signal.

The report links the outage to a broader pattern: how conflict pressure in North Kivu can quickly translate into breakdowns in essential services, from connectivity to financial access. Residents also described a sudden, prolonged power cut with no prior explanation, adding to uncertainty over whether the shutdown stems from infrastructure damage, operational constraints, or security-related disruption.

The communications blackout follows a week marked by drone strikes in the Rubaya area. On February 24, Willy Ngoma identified by the Associated Press as an M23 spokesperson was reported killed in a drone strike near the town, underscoring the intensity of fighting around a strategic mining zone.

Rubaya’s reported outage also comes shortly after mobile networks were restored in parts of North Kivu after nearly a month of disruptions. Overnight on February 16–17, services resumed in several localities across territories including Masisi and Rutshuru, highlighting how connectivity in the region can switch on and off with shifting security conditions and infrastructure constraints.