M23 Threaten Action as Rebel Commanders are Killed in DRC Drone Strike

M23 rebels have confirmed that their commanders were killed in a military strike by the Congolese armed forces.

“On Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, the Kinshasa régime violated yet again the imposed ceasefire by attacking our forces on the front lines and carrying out acts of assassination behind our front lines, killing two of our commanders,” said M23 in a statement this Wednesday afternoon. 

The rebel movement did not disclose the identities of the killed commanders.

However, ChimpReports on Wednesday night exclusively reported that M23’s Head of Intelligence, Colonel Castro Elise Mberabagabo died when the Congolese forces carried out a precision drone strike on the M23’s base in Kitchanga, Masisi territory, eastern DRC on Tuesday. 

The death of Mberabagabo, who also served as M23’s External Relations Officer, was seen as a huge blow to the insurgent movement.

Mberabagabo, who played a key role in mobilising funds for the movement, was seen as the “heart” of the M23 group.  

By Tuesday night, Colonel Erasto Bahati, the top advisor to M23’s military commander, General Sultani Makenga, was said to be fighting for his life after being seriously wounded in the Kitchanga ‘drone’ attack. 

In response to the attacks, the M23 stopped short of declaring war on President Felix Tshisekedi’s government.

“M23 respected the Regional leaders’ and International Partners imposed a ceasefire which the Kinshasa regime flouted and ignored,” said M23 in a statement today, adding, “From the foregoing (Kitchanga attack), the M23 has understood the message sent to it by the Kinshasa regime and will respond accordingly.”

Congolese forces recently procured dozens of lethal combat drones from China to counter the M23 rebel threat. 

The drones remain a big challenge to the rebel movement which had in the past decade perfected guerilla tactics to inflict severe blows to the Congolese forces.

Moments after the strike in Kitchanga, Congolese forces held a joint press conference with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to announce the commencement of joint military operations against M23 rebels. 

“The population of North Kivu must know that this force (SADC) is different from that of the East African Community,” said Lt General Fall Sikabwe, the coordinator of military operations in the province of North Kivu.  

“SADC comes with an offensive mandate,” he added.

Officials say SADC intends to deploy at least 7,000 soldiers in DRC. Their mission is to fight and defeat mainly M23 rebels in a space of 12 months. 

Since the resurgence of the M23 armed group in DRC in 2021, thousands have perished and more than 500,000 people have fled the violence.

Congo accuses Rwanda of arming M23 rebels and deploying troops to help the rebels, a claim Kigali vehemently denies.