M23 holds symbolic funeral after reported drone strike

M23 held a symbolic burial in Goma for 22 people it says were killed in a Jan. 2 drone strike in Masisi. Government officials and at least one researcher dispute parts of that account, and talks between M23 and the Congolese government are ongoing.

M23 held a symbolic burial in Goma on Jan. 8 for people it says died in a drone strike on Jan. 2 in Masisi territory. The rebel group blamed the Congolese armed forces and allied actors for the strike. The Congolese government publicly condemned the ceremony and disputed the rebels' narrative, while a researcher questioned the reported number and civilian status of the dead. The event took place as M23 and the Congolese government remain engaged in negotiations over the wider conflict. Key reported facts: - M23 said the Jan. 2 strike in Masisi killed 22 people and organised a symbolic burial in Goma on Jan. 8. - M23 attributed the attack to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and allies; government spokespeople condemned the ceremony and accused the rebels and foreign backers. - A Kinshasa-based researcher reported that the figure of 22 civilians may be exaggerated and said some of those presented could have been combatants. - The burial occurred amid ongoing negotiations between M23 and the Congolese government; no specific next procedural steps were announced. Summary: Claims about responsibility for the strike and the number and status of those killed are contested, and independent verification has not been established. The ceremony underscores tensions as talks between M23 and the Congolese government continue. Undetermined at this time.