A humanitarian aircraft was bombed on the ground at the Minembwe airstrip Monday morning in South Kivu, just days after the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a landmark peace agreement with Rwanda in Washington.
The airstrike carried out by FARDC — has triggered regional condemnation and fears of renewed escalation in the eastern Congo conflict.
Sources close to the operation claim that the aircraft was also preparing to evacuate Mukiza Nzabinesha Gadi, the newly sworn-in Vice-Governor of South Kivu in charge of Economy, Finance, and Development, a prominent ethnic Munyamulenge leader.
The plane, widely recognized as a humanitarian aid transporter, was also carrying critical relief supplies.
Intelligence reports suggest the DRC military had intercepted communications regarding the aircraft’s mission, fueling speculation that the bombing may have been premeditated and politically motivated.
The region where the strike occurred is under the control of M23, further complicating the narrative.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) issued a blistering communiqué, accusing Kinshasa of ethnic cleansing, ceasefire violation, and deliberate targeting of Banyamulenge civilians and leaders.
“This was not a mistake — this was a message,” the group declared, warning that “such acts will not go unpunished.”
While the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) acknowledged the strike in a press statement, they claimed the aircraft was unregistered, violated national airspace, and had no flight authorization — a justification critics say contradicts the fact that the plane was bombed on the ground at a known airstrip.
“This is nothing more than an attempt by Kinshasa to save face,” said a Munyamulenge resident in Butembo, speaking to Kivu Today. “After pledging peace before the world, they have returned to killing civilians and silencing Banyamulenge leadership.”
The strike came amid heightened uncertainty following two key diplomatic tracks: the Washington Agreement, signed between Rwanda and the DRC, which aimed to end cross-border hostility and restore regional stability; and a parallel ceasefire framework to be finalized in Doha between the DRC and the M23/AFC, still awaiting formal ratification.
In a sign of wider military escalation, local sources also report that FARDC Sukhoi jets have bombarded M23 positions across parts of South, further fueling speculation that the ceasefire framework is unraveling.
Observers warn that unless urgent international pressure is applied — including from the United States, Qatar, and African Union mediators — the situation may spiral out of control, jeopardizing both diplomatic gains and the safety of civilians in eastern DRC.