Goma Journalist and Former Political Figure Assassinated in Suspected M23 Internal Power Struggle
GOMA, DRC – Magloire Paluku, a journalist and former member of the Union pour la Nation Congolaise (UNC), was shot and killed on Wednesday evening, December 10, 2025, in front of his home in Goma, North Kivu. Local sources report the assailant used a pistol fitted with a silencer, indicating a targeted execution.
The killing is widely believed by sources close to armed groups to be linked to violent internal disputes within the M23/AFC (Allied Forces of the Congo) movement, which is backed by the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF).
A Shifting Political Trajectory
Paluku’s career was marked by shifting alliances within Congolese politics and armed conflicts.After the RDF–M23 war reignited in November 2021, he was in Kinshasa seeking a position in President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. Following unsuccessful attempts, he returned to Goma.
Initially, he positioned himself as a defender of the Congolese population and a critic of Rwandan involvement in the DRC. However, in a reversal, he was recruited into the M23/AFC in May 2024 by his longtime associate, Corneille Nangaa, the movement’s political leader. Sources indicate Paluku was enticed by promises of a significant political role and subsequently received political training in Tshanzu.
The Fatal Power Dispute
According to internal sources,Paluku’s downfall stemmed from a leadership clash. Nangaa reportedly proposed Paluku for the position of Deputy Governor of North Kivu under the M23’s administration. Paluku, educated, multilingual, and media-savvy, was seen as an ideal complement to the appointed Governor, Colonel Joseph Bahati Musanga, who has limited formal education and does not speak French or Lingala.
This proposal was allegedly overruled by the movement’s military leader, self-proclaimed Major General Sultan Makenga. Instead, Makenga appointed Willy Manzi, a figure described by sources as a Rwandan national and a nephew of the ICC-convicted warlord Bosco Ntaganda.
Paluku’s visible discontent over this rejection is said to have been interpreted as disloyalty within the secretive and militant organization. Sources claim that Makenga, acting on intelligence from Willy Manzi, subsequently issued an order for Paluku’s elimination.
A History of Alignment with Armed Groups
Paluku’s involvement with the M23 was reportedly the latest in a series of alignments with RDF-backed projects.During the AFDL war that brought Laurent-Désiré Kabila to power, he worked as a media animator for the RDF–AFDL campaign. He later maintained proximity to the RCD and CNDP movements, the latter led by General Laurent Nkunda, a personal friend.
A Cautionary Tale
The assassination of Magloire Paluku is being viewed by observers in Goma as a stark example of the deadly internal dynamics and rivalries within the M23/AFC.It highlights the perils for those who engage with armed groups where dissent is often met with extreme violence. His death underscores the opaque and ruthless nature of a conflict where political ambition and external interests frequently collide with fatal consequences.
This report is based on information provided by local sources in North Kivu and accounts from individuals claiming knowledge of M23/AFC internal affairs.
By: RPF Gakwerere
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