Rubaya drone strikes shift North Kivu battlefield as M23 leader killed

A fresh round of drone strikes near the mining town of Rubaya is being framed locally as a turning point in North Kivu’s conflict and a sign that the fight for strategic hubs in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is entering a sharper phase.

Media reported on February 24, 2026, that Rubaya, in Masisi territory, “returned” to control of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) after drone bombings hit M23 positions around the town, followed by ground advances by loyalist troops. The outlet said local sources described “significant” losses in personnel and equipment for the rebel movement, but noted there was no detailed official military statement on the outcome, and the M23 had not publicly responded.

Separately, the Associated Press reported that Willy Ngoma described as a spokesperson and senior officer of the Rwanda-backed M23 was killed in a predawn drone strike near Rubaya, citing a local U.N. official and a rights group. AP said residents told the outlet the strike hit a location that had recently served as an M23 enclave, and placed the incident in the context of stalled peace efforts and continuing instability in the region.

Together, the reports highlight how Rubaya’s mining corridor remains tightly linked to the broader strategic contest in eastern DRC. Control of key towns and access routes in Masisi and surrounding areas can influence both battlefield positioning and the movement of minerals, while also shaping humanitarian conditions and cross-border diplomacy.

For now, the most consequential claim in the local reporting that Rubaya has shifted back under FARDC control remains to be independently confirmed through official statements or multiple major outlets. But the confirmed killing of a senior M23 figure near Rubaya adds to signals that drone warfare is becoming more central to the conflict’s trajectory, raising the risk of retaliation and further volatility in the days ahead.

Source: Associated Press