AFC)/M23 has issued a stark warning to President Félix Tshisekedi, declaring that he “will pay for all his crimes” and will be captured and brought before a tribunal to answer for alleged atrocities, including the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in markets and schools.
Colonel Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the AFC/M23, delivered the threat in a heated address on January 8, 2026, shortly after a symbolic funeral ceremony in Goma for victims of recent drone strikes blamed on government forces.
The event at Unity Stadium honored at least 22 civilians killed in bombardments in the Masisi territory of North Kivu earlier in the month, with M23 officials claiming the attacks targeted non-combatants using kamikaze drones operated by the Congolese armed forces (FARDC).
Mourners, including families of the deceased and rebel administrators, gathered amid visible grief, as coffins were displayed and bodies transferred from inaccessible areas were buried on site.
Ngoma’s remarks appeared fueled by deep bitterness over the civilian deaths, framing the president’s alleged actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity. “Tshisekedi will be captured and tried for these atrocities,” he stated, accusing the government of deliberate attacks on innocent people amid the ongoing offensive.
The Congolese government in Kinshasa has rejected such claims, often describing M23 accusations as propaganda to justify their territorial gains and deflect from reported abuses by rebel forces.
Independent experts and human rights monitors have noted civilian casualties of government drone strikes.
The M23, which controls Goma and large swaths of North Kivu, has positioned itself as a defender of civilians while pursuing broader military and political aims.
The funeral and subsequent threats illustrate escalating rhetoric in a war that has displaced millions and drawn international concern.
Analysts suggest Ngoma’s emotionally charged statements reflect frustration over persistent fighting despite past diplomatic efforts, potentially complicating any path to negotiation.