DRC: Reports of Drone Strikes in Minembwe and Ongoing Disputes Over Switzerland Talks Between Kinshasa and AFC/M23
On the evening of Wednesday, 22/04/2026, at approximately 18:05, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) coalition announced that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), in coordination with Burundian troops, as well as the Wazalendo militia and the FDLR, had carried out heavy attacks in the Minembwe Centre area, a locality known to host a significant civilian population.
According to AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the attacks involved the use of combat drones, including kamikaze drones and KT-6-type unmanned aerial vehicles. The group claims that the strikes caused widespread panic among civilians and resulted in the destruction of property belonging to non-combatants.
AFC/M23 stated that these operations demonstrate the continued reliance on military force rather than political solutions, describing them as a threat to civilian security in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Local residents, as reported by Minembwe Capital News, alleged that the FARDC operation, supported by Burundian forces, the Wazalendo militia, and the FDLR, destroyed civilian homes and damaged infrastructure as well as livestock.
Meanwhile, in Montreux, Switzerland, AFC/M23 representatives held a press briefing on 22/04/2026, providing updates on ongoing discussions within the Doha peace process framework.
In his remarks, Benjamin Mbonimpa, the Permanent Secretary of AFC/M23, who is participating in the talks, stated that the Kinshasa government continues to obstruct certain confidence-building measures. These include the continued closure of Goma International Airport and restrictions on banking operations in areas under the group’s control.
AFC/M23 also reiterated its commitment to pursuing a lasting peace, expressing willingness to cooperate with all parties to facilitate improved living conditions for civilians in the territories it administers.
To date, relations between the Kinshasa government and the AFC/M23 coalition remain highly strained, despite ongoing political dialogue efforts under the Doha framework.
Both sides continue to accuse each other of actions undermining security and civilian welfare, while international actors and organizations persist in urging dialogue and an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Despite ongoing negotiations, prospects for peace remain fragile in parts of eastern Congo, where insecurity continues to pose a serious challenge for the civilian population.
