M23 Claims Congo Violated Peace Deal with Airstrike
M23 accuses Congo of attacking a humanitarian aircraft in Minembwe, South Kivu, just three days after signing a peace deal. The group claims the June 30 airstrike destroyed aid supplies meant for civilians.
According to the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), the aircraft was delivering food and medicine when it was bombed. The group described the attack as a brutal violation of the ceasefire agreed on June 27 in Washington.
“The Kinshasa regime has bombed an aid plane. This is another act of cruelty against our people,” their statement read.
The group believes the attack was not random. It insists the government is targeting the Banyamulenge, a minority group in eastern Congo.
Militias and Army Accused of Joint Offensives
Besides the airstrike, M23 accuses Congo of breaking the ceasefire through joint military operations. The group says Congo’s army is collaborating with Burundi’s FNDB, the FDLR, and the Wazalendo militia.
These forces allegedly attacked civilians in Kabare, Kanyola, Kigogo, Kadasomwa, and Nyabiondo. M23 claims these attacks are calculated and threaten to collapse the peace deal.
“These massacres of our Banyamulenge brothers and sisters are intolerable. We will not let them go unanswered,” M23 warned.
Minembwe’s Deep Ethnic Divide
The region of Minembwe has long experienced tension. It is home to the Banyamulenge, a Tutsi-speaking Congolese group. Over the years, many militias have targeted them, accusing them of being outsiders.
This bombing, M23 argues, is part of a bigger pattern of ethnic violence. The group says the government is complicit in what they call an ongoing campaign to wipe out Banyamulenge communities.
Peace Hopes in Danger
The June 27 peace deal brought hope to a region wrecked by years of war. However, M23 accuses Congo of undermining it through renewed attacks. If these claims are accurate, the truce may already be broken.
The rebel group is now urging international leaders—especially the U.S.—to verify the incident. They believe global intervention is the only way to stop further bloodshed.
Silence from Kinshasa and Monitors
So far, the Congolese government has not commented. No humanitarian agencies have confirmed the bombing either. Due to poor access to Minembwe, verifying the claims is difficult.
Despite the silence, fear is rising. Communities in South Kivu are on edge, and M23’s warnings have amplified those fears. The group insists that ignoring their plea will only make the crisis worse.
Ethnic Targeting Concerns Return
M23 says the bombing and continued attacks reflect a deeper issue—ethnic cleansing. The Banyamulenge, despite being Congolese, often face discrimination from the state and other ethnic groups.
The rebels believe that without urgent global pressure, this violence could spiral out of control. They argue that the international community must step in before the damage becomes irreversible.
Uncertain Road Ahead
Peace in eastern DR Congo remains fragile. M23’s latest accusations, if true, threaten to unravel recent diplomatic progress. Without independent investigations, the region could fall back into chaos.
In this context, M23 accuses Congo of abandoning its promises and using violence to resolve disputes. The failure to respect the ceasefire could affect not just Minembwe but the entire Great Lakes region.
For more updates on regional conflicts, read how Ugandan students in Israel seek repatriation amid war at Uganda Post, why SADC’s withdrawal from eastern DR Congo stirred concern at Uganda Post, how Kenya’s Gen Z protests are reshaping politics at Utimez, and explore the current Sudan conflict at Utimez.