DR Congo Army Accused of Horrific Drone Attack on Minembwe Hospital

Bertrand Bisimwa, the deputy coordinator of the AFC/M23 movement, has vehemently condemned the reported bombing of Hôpital Général de Minembwe in South Kivu province. According to Bisimwa, this attack, allegedly carried out by coalition forces aligned with Kinshasa, constitutes a war crime and a grave violation of international humanitarian law. This condemnation comes amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts and continued military operations in eastern DR Congo.

Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the AFC/M23, detailed that combat drones struck the hospital on Wednesday, June 24, specifically targeting its pediatric ward at approximately 2 p.m. Kanyuka described the incident as part of an indiscriminate bombing campaign against Minembwe and its surrounding areas by the Kinshasa-aligned coalition. This coalition reportedly includes the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), Burundian troops, the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, foreign mercenaries, and other local militias. Bombardments had reportedly been ongoing since Tuesday, June 23, and had already resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children.

Reacting to the reported strike, Bisimwa emphasized that attacks on hospitals represent unequivocal breaches of the laws governing armed conflict. He stated that bombing a hospital during wartime is inherently a war crime, citing the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which mandate the respect and protection of hospitals, ambulances, medical personnel, and wounded civilians under all circumstances. Bisimwa further invoked Article 8 of the Rome Statute, ratified by DR Congo, which establishes that intentionally directing attacks against hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are gathered constitutes a war crime.

Bisimwa articulated the principle of distinction, stressing that belligerents must always differentiate between civilians and combatants, as well as between civilian property and military objectives. He affirmed that a hospital is protected civilian property, highlighting that the severity of bombing such a site lies in its role as a sanctuary for individuals already out of combat, including the wounded, the sick, children, women, and medical professionals. He warned of the far-reaching consequences beyond immediate casualties, explaining that destroying a hospital has a