(MENAFN) A soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s armed forces, reportedly intoxicated, fatally shot at least five comrades, local media report. The incident took place Tuesday morning in Mungazi, North Kivu province, a region long troubled by conflict between government forces and the M23 rebel group, which has intensified since early 2025.

According to Actualite.cd, the soldier opened fire after receiving his salary. Fiston Misona Tabashile, head of Walikale’s civil society, told the Associated Press that tensions among soldiers escalated into violence late Monday night following payday. Two soldiers died immediately at the scene, while nine others were critically injured and taken to Kibua General Hospital, where three later died.

Congolese military spokesperson Nestor Mavudisa confirmed the suspects have been arrested and are in custody. Initially, many local residents believed M23 rebels were responsible, but eyewitnesses later clarified that the attackers were Congolese soldiers who had just collected their pay.

The M23 rebels are one of many armed groups active in eastern DR Congo’s mineral-rich region, where government control has been weak for decades. In early 2025, the rebels launched a significant offensive, capturing Goma in January and Bukavu in February, leading to one of the worst humanitarian crises in years, affecting civilians, soldiers, and UN peacekeepers. In April, the International Committee of the Red Cross helped evacuate hundreds of disarmed Congolese soldiers and police seeking shelter at a UN base in Goma after the city fell.

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