GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Magloire Paluku Kavunga, a former journalist and prominent cultural figure who later served as a cultural adviser within the AFC/M23 movement, was shot dead on Wednesday evening in the streets of Goma, sources said. His killing has sent shockwaves through North Kivu’s political and media circles.
Key facts
- Victim: Magloire Paluku Kavunga, born 12 December 1966 in Butembo.
- Age: 58; he died two days before what would have been his 59th birthday.
- Role: Founder of Radio Kivu 1 and Kivu 1 Television; former cultural adviser to AFC/M23.
- Circumstances: Shot dead in Goma on Wednesday evening; exact circumstances of the fatal shooting have not been clarified.
Life and career
Paluku was widely regarded as one of North Kivu’s most influential media entrepreneurs and a multifaceted cultural figure — journalist, writer-poet, musician, actor and presenter. He founded Radio Kivu 1 and Kivu 1 TV, outlets that shaped political debate and cultural identity across the region for decades. Before joining AFC/M23, he worked in the Congolese Ministry of Culture, serving as cultural and artistic adviser and later as a director of cabinet.
Security concerns and recent history
According to accounts, Paluku had expressed fears for his safety and requested an armed security escort.In July 2024, Magloire Paluku was sentenced to death in the trial against Corneille Nangaa and 24 other co-defendants before the Gombe Military Court. They were prosecuted for war crimes, treason, and participation in an insurrection in the east of the country. His name appeared on the list of 25 defendants, alongside, notably, the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Corneille Nangaa, and several officers of the AFC/M23.
Reaction from AFC/M23 and political implications
The M23 issued a statement condemning Paluku’s killing and said it would investigate the matter and hold perpetrators accountable. No public evidence has been released and AFC/M23 has not provided a detailed formal response beyond the pledge to probe the incident. Still, the assassination is already reshaping political conversations across the province and risks undermining the movement’s fragile legitimacy, particularly in Nande-majority areas such as Butembo, Beni and Lubero.
Paluku had been seen as a rare bridge figure between the rebellion’s leadership and communities historically skeptical of Rwandophone-led movements. His death could heighten communal tensions, provoke retaliatory hostility and complicate AFC/M23’s efforts to present itself as a viable governing authority.
Legacy
Paluku’s assassination ends the life of a man who helped define North Kivu’s media and cultural landscape for more than three decades. From founding influential radio and television platforms to navigating the complexities of rebel governance, his career reflected the region’s contradictions: creativity amid crisis, influence amid insecurity. The full fallout from his killing remains uncertain as investigators and local leaders respond.
