DR Congo Conducts Drone Strikes on M23 Rebel Group at Key Coltan Mine. Goma, DR Congo — 2026-02-25 Lead Paragraph: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government forces have launched a significant offensive against the M23 rebel group, utilizing drones to target a vital coltan mining site in North Kivu province.
The Rubaya mine, seized by M23 with backing from Rwanda in April 2024, is a critical source of coltan, an essential mineral for electronics manufacturing.
This attack marks the latest escalation in a conflict that has raged for over three decades in the DRC’s resource-rich eastern regions.
The Rubaya mine, which produces approximately 30 percent of the world’s coltan, has been a focal point of the ongoing conflict. Since M23’s resurgence in 2021, the group has captured extensive areas in the DRC’s eastern regions, exacerbating the long-standing conflict.
The recent offensive follows fighting in South Kivu, where M23-aligned militias clashed with Congolese troops near the strategic town of Uvira.
In North Kivu, local militias have joined forces with Congolese troops, particularly around Masisi, to combat the rebels.
According to reports, M23 has established a parallel administration to manage operations at the Rubaya mine.
Despite ceasefire proposals from Angola and diplomatic pressure from the United States, hostilities have persisted, leaving residents in fear as drone strikes and clashes escalate. Regional officials confirmed that the DRC government is determined to retake control of the mine and disrupt M23’s financing.
The use of drones in this operation is a new tactic in the conflict, raising concerns about the implications of such technology in warfare.
The situation in the DRC remains volatile, with the fate of the Rubaya mine and the broader conflict hanging in the balance. Further details are expected as the offensive continues and the international community weighs its response to the ongoing crisis.
