Media reports ‘drunken’ Congolese soldier murdering colleagues in altercation
(MENAFN) A soldier from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fatally shot at least five of his fellow troops in North Kivu province, local media reported.
The shooting took place on Tuesday morning in Mungazi, a region in eastern DRC that has been plagued by ongoing conflict between government forces and M23 rebels since early 2025. According to Actualite.cd, the soldier opened fire shortly after receiving his salary. Fiston Misona Tabashile, a civil society leader in Walikale, told AP that a dispute broke out among the soldiers late Monday night following payday, which escalated into deadly violence.
Two soldiers died at the scene, while nine others were severely injured and taken to Kibua General Hospital. Three of the wounded later died from their injuries.
Military spokesperson Nestor Mavudisa confirmed the suspect had been arrested and was in custody. Initially, locals feared M23 rebels were responsible for the attack, but witnesses later identified the shooter as a Congolese soldier.
The eastern DRC remains volatile, with the M23 group being one of many armed factions operating in the resource-rich region. The rebels launched a large-scale offensive in January, capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and expanding into South Kivu in February by taking control of Bukavu. The renewed violence has triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and ongoing involvement of UN peacekeepers.
In April, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped evacuate hundreds of Congolese soldiers and police who had sought protection at a UN base after Goma fell to rebel forces.
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