Magloire Paluku Kavunga, a well-known Congolese media pioneer and adviser within the AFC/M23 movement, was fatally shot on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, in Goma, North Kivu, local sources confirm. The 58-year-old cultural figure died after being hit by gunfire from unidentified armed assailants. Authorities have not yet clarified the exact circumstances. The AFC/M23 acknowledged his death and announced an internal investigation.

Born on 12 December 1966 in Butembo, Paluku was a highly influential journalist, writer, poet, musician, actor, and broadcaster in eastern Congo. He founded Radio Kivu 1, one of North Kivu’s most recognizable media platforms, which played a major role in shaping political and cultural discourse across the region. Paluku also served in the DRC Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage as a cultural and artistic adviser and later as director of cabinet.

In mid-2024, Paluku joined the AFC/M23, a rebel-linked coalition that controls significant parts of eastern Congo, including Goma. Within the movement, he served as a cultural adviser and communication coordinator. His alignment with AFC/M23 was controversial, especially after his name appeared in a high-profile military trial in 2024, where he and others were tried on charges related to war crimes and insurrection. Paluku was reportedly sentenced to death by the Military Court of Gombe in that case, though he remained at large and active in areas controlled by the movement.

Reports indicate he was shot by unidentified gunmen in Goma, though the exact details of the attack including motive and assailants have not been confirmed. The AFC/M23 described the incident as an “act of criminality” and pledged to investigate to identify those responsible, while expressing condolences to Paluku’s family and supporters.

Paluku’s death has been widely reported across Congolese news outlets, though formal reactions from international organizations and civil society are still developing. Observers note that his passing marks the end of a distinct career bridging media, culture, and political engagement in a region long affected by armed conflict and shifting alliances.

Magloire Paluku’s life reflected a complex journey from influential media entrepreneur to high-profile figure within a rebel administration. His contributions to radio and cultural discourse made him one of North Kivu’s most visible public personalities. He died just two days before his 59th birthday.