The prominent military spokesperson for the M23 rebel movement, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma, has been killed in a drone strike in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials and rebel sources have confirmed.

The strike, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24, targeted an enclave near the strategic mining town of Rubaya in North Kivu province. The town is a significant global hub for coltan—a mineral essential for the production of smartphones—and has been a key financial stronghold for the rebels since its capture last year.

A Precision Attack

Local residents reported hearing a massive explosion at approximately 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT). A regional diplomat and a senior official within the M23 confirmed to the media that Ngoma was killed instantly when the drone struck a farm area used as a rebel command post.

While the Congolese government in Kinshasa has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, the Congolese army (FARDC) has notably increased its use of combat drones in recent weeks to target high-value rebel leadership.

The Face of the Rebellion

Lt. Col. Ngoma was the most recognizable face of the M23. Often seen in full military uniform delivering defiant press conferences from captured territories, he was instrumental in the group’s sophisticated media strategy.

His death is seen as a major psychological and tactical blow to the movement. In recent months, Ngoma had been a central figure in the “Alliance Fleuve Congo” (AFC), a broader political-military coalition led by Corneille Nangaa, which has sought to challenge the central government’s authority.

Fragile Peace Efforts

The killing comes at a delicate time for regional diplomacy. Qatar and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump have been brokering ceasefire talks in Doha.

“This is a significant escalation,” said one Western adviser to the Congolese government. “It undermines the monitoring mechanisms agreed upon in Doha and raises the immediate risk of a retaliatory offensive by the M23.”

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with more than seven million people displaced by fighting between the army, the M23, and various other armed groups.