In the early hours of May 24, 2026 (00:15), pro‑Kinshasa forces launched a deadly attack on Rubaya using a CH4 combat drone, striking a densely populated area.
According to a statement from AFC/M23, the strike caused multiple civilian deaths and destroyed homes and property. Social media reports suggest one of the bombs hit a guest house.
AFC/M23 denounced the attack as deliberate and “inhumane,” accusing the Congolese government of targeting innocent civilians. The group called on Congolese citizens and the international community to bear witness to what it described as state‑sponsored violence.
The strike underscores the escalating use of drone warfare in eastern Congo. Fighting continues in Masisi, Rubaya, and parts of South Kivu, with civilians caught in the crossfire.
