On May 23, 2026, reports emerged that General Byamungu Ruduga Abdalah, a commander aligned with the Wazalendo movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo, died from injuries sustained in a drone strike.
Initial reactions confused him with General Byamungu Maheshe of AFC/M23, a well‑known rebel commander. However, colleagues clarified during his burial in Kigongo that Ruduga Abdalah was the one killed, not Maheshe.
Speakers at the funeral explained that Byamungu was struck by a drone at Ruvungi, suffering shoulder wounds before succumbing. “Byamungu was not killed by his comrades. He died for his country, as a soldier and a Congolese,” one colleague said.
So far, neither Wazalendo nor the Congolese army (FARDC) has issued an official statement. Only videos circulating on social media confirm his death.
Clashes continue in North Kivu, especially in Masisi and Rubaya, and in South Kivu. Government forces and their adversaries are reportedly using drones in combat, escalating the conflict’s intensity.
