Popular DR Congo Music Star Killed While Filming Video

• Congolese musician Delcat Idengo killed while filming a music video in conflict-hit Goma.
• Government and M23 rebels trade blame for the assassination amid rising tensions.
• Protests erupt in North Kivu as calls for justice and an end to violence grow.

A popular musician in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Delphin Katembo Vinywasiki—better known as Delcat Idengo—was killed while filming a music video in the conflict-ridden eastern town of Goma.

His body was discovered on a street on Thursday, partially covered in blood, with unconfirmed reports suggesting he was shot. Idengo, known for his politically charged songs critical of both the government and rebel forces, had recently escaped from prison in Goma when M23 militants seized the city last month.

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Eastern DR Congo remains engulfed in violence as armed groups and government forces battle for control of the region’s vast mineral wealth. The circumstances of Idengo’s killing remain unclear.

The musician had just released a song titled Bunduki (Swahili for “weapon”), denouncing the rebel occupation of Goma. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya condemned his death as an “abominable act” and blamed M23 for the killing. However, the rebels denied responsibility, instead accusing government-aligned forces.

Tensions have escalated further since M23, backed by Rwanda, captured Goma in late January, with the rebels now advancing toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. According to the UN, the latest wave of violence has claimed around 2,900 lives and displaced 700,000 people.

Idengo’s killing has sparked protests in his hometown of Beni, where demonstrators are demanding justice. Videos circulating online show his body lying on the ground in Goma’s Kilijiwe area, with witnesses saying he was dressed in military-style trousers for the video shoot when he was attacked.

The Congolese Ministry of Arts and Culture labelled his killing an “assassination,” stating that Idengo’s music gave voice to the aspirations of an entire generation.

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Idengo had faced legal troubles in recent years. He was jailed in 2023 for allegedly inciting people to take up arms against UN peacekeepers and, in 2021, sentenced to 10 years for insulting President Félix Tshisekedi in a song. He was later acquitted.

His death has drawn strong reactions from political leaders. Opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who finished third in the 2023 election, mourned Idengo as a “patriot committed to national cohesion,” calling for an end to the war. Moïse Katumbi, the runner-up in the election, demanded that those responsible be swiftly identified and punished.

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