Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma, spokesperson for the M23 military group, has refuted recent reports claiming that he was killed in an ambush by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
Earlier this week, pro-government Congolese sources circulated news alleging that Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma and Henri Maggie were killed in Rutshuru Territory during an ambush by FARDC and the Wazalendo militia. By Wednesday, additional rumors spread across social media, suggesting that Ngoma had been replaced by Oscar Balinda, the M23 Deputy Political Spokesperson.
In an audio statement released on Thursday, January 16, 2025, Lt. Col. Ngoma dismissed the claims of his death.
“We are on January 16, 2025. I am Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma. Where and when did I die? This is all part of Tshisekedi’s political propaganda. They bring in FARDC, FDLR, CODECO, Burundians, and mercenaries, yet they are being severely defeated,” he said.
Criticism of FARDC Alliances
Lt. Col. Ngoma criticized the Congolese army for aligning with what he described as “criminal groups” such as the FDLR, which is responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and CODECO, a militia notorious for ongoing atrocities in the Ituri Province.
He emphasized that FARDC’s reliance on these groups undermines its effectiveness in the conflict with M23.
“I am alive and well. Let those fools keep spreading their nonsense,” Ngoma concluded, dismissing the rumors as baseless.
