M23 accuses DRC army of killing 10 civilians in Sukhoi-25 attack

By The Inspirer.

The armed group M23 has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) military (FARDC) of killing civilians in an attack by a Sukhoi-25 warplane, leaving 10 dead and 25 others injured.

M23’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated that these civilians were killed when the aircraft dropped bombs in densely populated areas of Kalehe territory, South Kivu province, on February 13, 2025.

According to Kanyuka, the attack also destroyed homes and the Kalehe General Hospital.

He said, “We inform everyone that the FARDC Sukhoi-25 warplane dropped bombs in heavily populated areas of Kalehe on Thursday, 13/02/2025, killing 10 people, injuring 25 others, and destroying civilian homes as well as the Kalehe General Hospital.”

The DRC military launched this attack a day after M23 fighters had seized control of the Kalehe and Ihusi centers in South Kivu.

These attacks contradict the resolutions made during the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summits, which emphasized the need to halt hostilities and provocations, urging the DRC government to engage in dialogue with M23.