MONUSCO) is facing serious accusations from the AFC/M23, which claims the mission has become complicit in violence and indiscriminate killings of civilians in the country’s conflict-affected east.
In a strongly worded statement, the AFC/M23 alleged that drone strikes carried out by coalition forces aligned with the Kinshasa government are enabled by reconnaissance flights conducted by MONUSCO.
According to the group, the mission’s “persistent silence and inaction” in the face of civilian casualties amount to moral and political complicity.
The accusations follow recent violence in Masisi-Centre, where provisional figures cited by the AFC/M23 report at least 10 civilians killed and more than 50 injured.
The group says all the victims were non-combatants and describes the incident as part of a pattern of indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations in eastern DRC.
“The MONUSCO must clearly cite the Kinshasa regime as responsible for the murders of civilians in Masisi-Centre and elsewhere, and unequivocally condemn repeated ceasefire violations,” said Lawrence Kanyuka, Head of Communication.
He further claimed that MONUSCO’s responsibility is engaged “to the same extent” as that of government forces due to what it described as close operational proximity, including joint operations and cooperation under initiatives such as the so-called Springbok operation.
The AFC/M23 argues that this alleged collusion can no longer be denied and has called on national, regional, and international actors to bear witness to what it describes as repeated massacres of civilians in the east of the country. “These figures are not mere statistics,” the group said, “they reflect a human tragedy.”
Framing the situation as a broader collapse of state authority marked by impunity, the AFC/M23 appealed for urgent protection of civilians.
It reiterated its stated willingness to work toward the restoration of state authority across the national territory, presenting this as essential to peace, security, and the dignity of the Congolese people.