The Congolese armed forces have started using combat drones against M23 rebels in the eastern part of the vast and mineral-rich country.
ChimpReports has learned that on Saturday evening, CH-4 drones struck various bases of M23 rebels in the Nyongera, North Kivu.
It remains unclear if the drones were operated by Congolese soldiers or the personnel of Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC).
The rebels confirmed being hit by combat drones.
“Currently the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime … are attacking densely populated areas in Nyongera and its surroundings using combat drones,” said M23 communication officer, Lawrence Kanyuka on Saturday night.
Flee
Sources said upon being hit by drones, hundreds of M23 fighters last night fled to neighbouring countries, a claim we are yet to verify.
The heavy bombardment of M23 territory came just days after SADC deployed soldiers and modern long-range weaponry to counter the rebels.
The development marks a significant shift towards enhancing technological capacities of the Congolese army in counter insurgency operations.
It also underscores the modernisation of the DRC armed forces’ during the reign of President Felix Tshisekedi.
In February 2023, Kinshasa ordered 9 CH-4 combat drones from China.
Officials say Tshisekedi directed the army to buy more drones as the rebels threatened to capture Goma.
Tshisekedi recently warned Rwanda against supporting the M23 rebels, saying Congolese armed forces had developed capacity to “strike Kigali without sending soldiers in Rwanda.” Rwanda denies the charge.
The Congolese leader was referring to the power of the combat drones stationed at South Kavumu military airport – which is located strategically within range of the conflict zone.
“The drones not only conduct aerial surveillance in rebel territory but also carry out precision strikes against the insurgents,” said a source at a regional security body who preferred anonymity to speak freely.
“We now see M23 registering considerable losses because even if you hide in a trench, the drones will locate and strike you. You don’t have room to escape or capacity to counter them.”
The CH-4 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying a variety of weapons, including air-to-surface missiles and bombs.
The drones have a mixed attack and reconnaissance system with provisions for 6 weapons and a payload of up to 250 to 345 kg.
Armed group attacks on civilians, combined with persistent clashes between the M23, other armed groups, and government forces have generated thousands of civilian casualties and displaced an estimated 1.1 million people in North Kivu Province since March 2022.
The majority of those displaced—more than 60 percent of whom are children—are sheltering in overcrowded IDP sites with limited resources in and around North Kivu’s capital city of Goma and surrounding Nyiragongo Territory, where they remain in urgent need of food, health, protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
