The AFC/M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo said on Sunday that the government coalition carried out drone attacks on populated areas in continued violation of a ceasefire agreed in July. Since 12:00 p.m. this Sunday, August 24, 2025, these forces, composed notably of foreign mercenaries, have been conducting an offensive targeting the densely populated areas of Kadasomwa and its surroundings as well as our positions, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a post on X. ALSO READ: Mercenaries in the DRC crisis: What it means legally and ethically These attacks have caused considerable human losses and led to the forced displacement of many compatriots fleeing drone bombings. This comes hours after reports said the rebels had taken control of Rubumba, a small town in South Kivu province that is near Uvira. Since mid-February, the rebels have controlled Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. ALSO READ: DR Congo military generals to be quizzed over battle losses to M23 Kanyuka said the rebels, who also control Goma, the capital of North Kivu, would have to eliminate the threat at its source. Hundreds of European mercenaries surrendered to the AFC/M23 in late January, when the rebels captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo. ALSO READ: Timeline of events before and after M23 captured Goma The mercenaries, mostly from Eastern Europe, were later allowed safe passage through Rwanda before they flew to their countries. In recent months, there have been reports of the Congolese government hiring new mercenaries from Latin America to fight in the war that has been going on for over three years. Contrary to the Goma scenario, where hundreds of mercenaries were allowed to return unpunished to their homes after massacring our compatriots, their new murderous campaign will guarantee them no safe return, Kanyuka said. Renewed hostilities Hostilities between the AFC/M23 rebels and the government coalition have been reported since the beginning of August. The deadline to sign a peace deal under Qatar-mediated talks elapsed on August 18. Although negotiations resumed in Doha on August 19, the deputy head of the AFC/M23 said recently that the movement's delegation would not discuss the proposed peace agreement before the government released prisoners and honoured the provisions of the Declaration of Principles signed on July 19. Yes, it’s true, we have a delegation in Doha, we have officially acknowledged it, Bertrand Bisimwa told a news conference in Goma on Friday. The delegation is there to discuss, we have said, it’s to discuss only the ceasefire mechanisms and the prisoner release mechanisms to move forward. When we finish this step, we can move on to something else.
