AFC/M23 accuses Burundian warplanes of new attacks on Banyamulenge civilians

By The Inspirer.

The AFC/M23 coalition, which opposes the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has accused Burundian military forces of carrying out fresh aerial attacks against Banyamulenge communities in South Kivu Province.

In a statement released on Friday, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the attacks occurred at dawn on December 13, 2025, and involved fighter jets, helicopters, and drones operating from Burundian territory.

“Su-25 fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, and military drones launched from Burundian soil carried out indiscriminate strikes on densely populated Banyamulenge villages in Mikenke and Rwitsankuku,” Kanyuka said. “These attacks constitute a serious violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”

According to the group, the strikes deliberately targeted civilians and resulted in the deaths of several people, including women and children. AFC/M23 described the incidents as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The coalition further reported that a Sukhoi-25 fighter jet had also bombed a Banyamulenge refugee camp in the Mikenke area on the morning of December 12, 2025.

Commenting on the situation, Congolese politician Moïse Nyarugabo attributed the attacks on civilians by Congolese and Burundian forces to their setbacks on the battlefield.

“These attacks are a direct consequence of repeated military defeats,” Nyarugabo said, noting that government forces have lost control of large portions of the Rusizi Plain over the past two weeks.