MONUSCO has strongly condemned a FARDC drone strike in Masisi-centre, North Kivu, after reports that the attack affected civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In a statement issued following the incident, MONUSCO said it “strongly condemns any attack, including by drones, targeting or affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” stressing that the strike occurred in a populated area.
The UN mission reminded all parties that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate strikes that do not clearly distinguish between military targets and civilian areas.
AFC/M23 accused the Congolese army of carrying out what it described as an indiscriminate drone attack.
The movement said the strike hit Masisi-centre, an area it claims hosts civilians and essential infrastructure, and argued that the use of explosive drones in such settings constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
AFC/M23 further accused the government of escalating the conflict through heavy weaponry while publicly claiming to protect civilians, a contradiction the group says has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties and displacement in North Kivu.
It called for independent investigations into the incident and renewed international scrutiny of FARDC military operations.
MONUSCO, for its part, said it is assessing the situation on the ground and reiterated its mandate to protect civilians. The mission warned that the growing use of drones and other explosive weapons in densely populated areas significantly increases risks to non-combatants and could aggravate an already dire humanitarian situation.
The condemnation comes amid intensified fighting in Masisi territory, where renewed clashes have forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, further straining humanitarian services in eastern Congo.