AFC/M23 Bury Civilians Killed in Masisi Drone Strikes Amidst Controversy and Accusations of State Abandonment
The AFC/M23 rebel movement on Thursday buried 22 civilians killed during recent drone attacks in Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province, in ceremonies that underscored both the human toll of the conflict and the political controversy surrounding responsibility for the strikes.
The ceremony, held at Goma’s Stade de l’Unité before burial in Mubambiro, was framed by the group as a tribute to “innocent civilians cowardly massacred.” The rebels directly accused the Congolese military coalition—comprising the national army (FARDC), Burundian troops, Wazalendo militias, the FDLR, and foreign mercenaries—of carrying out the strikes, the first of which hit Masisi Centre on January 2.
Conflicting Narratives and a Scathing Critique
While Congolese authorities have not formally claimed responsibility for the strikes, some officials and pro-government voices have dismissed the burial as a “Rwandan manipulation,” referring to the common government accusation that M23 is backed by Rwanda. This dismissal has provoked a forceful rebuttal from critics within the country.
A poignant French-language commentary, circulating widely on Congolese social media, challenges this narrative head-on. “These are not rumours. It is not a setup, nor a ‘Rwandan manipulation’,” the text states. “These are our drones (FARDC) and innocent Congolese civilians who were torn apart.”
The critique directly questions the state’s response: “Must we deny that the FARDC, our own forces, through their drones, killed civilians in Masisi on January 2, simply because it is the M23 organizing the funerals?” It notes that even local MP Ayobangira Safari has denounced the attacks.
A Moral Appeal for State Responsibility
The commentary escalates into a broader indictment of governmental responsibility, arguing that the state’s failure to acknowledge and mourn its own citizens is a profound moral and strategic failure.
“When the state abandons [its duty], others fill the void,” it asserts. “The Congolese state did not bury its children. It did not recognize them. It did not mourn them. It abandoned them.”
It concludes with a call for accountability: “A country is not defended by denial, but by responsibility. A state that refuses the truth in the face of the bodies of its citizens is always preparing its own failure.”
Rebel Vows and Escalating Tensions
In a statement on X, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka expressed “deepest compassion to the families cruelly bereaved” and vowed that “these heinous crimes will neither be forgotten nor trivialized.” The group reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to protecting civilian populations.”
The incident underscores the severely deteriorated security situation in Masisi and the escalating propaganda battle surrounding the conflict. As civilian casualties mount, the debate has shifted beyond the immediate violence to fundamental questions about state legitimacy, moral authority, and the duty to protect—and mourn—all citizens, regardless of which party controls the territory.
