The coalition and pro-government forces aligned with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have bombed a civilian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid and essential supplies to Minembwe in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 rebels have announced.
According to Lawrence Kanyuka, the group’s head of communications and spokesperson, the aircraft was attacked at about 8:10am on August 27 while transporting humanitarian assistance to civilians facing what the group described as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kanyuka condemned the incident, describing it as a terrorist act against a humanitarian mission whose purpose was to provide urgent assistance to vulnerable civilians.
Kanyuka alleges said the incident was similar to the destruction of another humanitarian aircraft in Minembwe on June 30, which it said was carrying medicines for a local hospital.
He also cited a similar incident in Walikale in 2025, arguing that such attacks could discourage humanitarian organisations and their partners from assisting vulnerable civilian populations.
Kanyuka called on the Congolese people and mediators involved in efforts to resolve the conflict to take note of the developments and pursue a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
He also accused the Kinshasa government of failing to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and of deliberately waging what he described as a large-scale war against the Congolese people.
AFC-M23, he said, remains committed to defending and protecting civilians without discrimination and would take measures, including establishing a security perimeter, to prevent and respond to further threats.
