Goma airport can only be reopened by AFC/M23, say rebels
The AFC/M23 movement has dismissed what it calls Kinshasa’s “illusory” announcement on plans to reopen Goma International Airport, insisting that only the rebel authorities, who currently control the city, have the mandate to decide when operations can resume.
Goma International Airport was closed in January at the height of renewed fighting in eastern DR Congo. At the time, M23 declared the facility unsafe, accusing government-aligned coalition forces of using it to “load bombs that are killing the civilian population.”
Although the international community later urged the restoration of air operations after AFC/M23 seized Goma city, the rebels rejected the request, arguing that the airport had been left compromised by government forces who, they claimed, abandoned the area after laying explosives and causing damage that prevented safe use of the runway.
During a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Felix Tshisekedi on Thursday, November 13, the government announced preparations to reopen the airport, a move the rebels swiftly denounced.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 16, the movement’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka criticised Tshisekedi’s directive as detached from realities on the ground.
“The Kinshasa regime has neither the legitimacy nor the right to consider reopening airport infrastructure located in liberated territory, which it deliberately plundered and sabotaged,” Kanyuka said through his official X account.
“The airport can and will be reopened solely by AFC/M23, not by President Felix Tshisekedi or any other party.”
The movement further reiterated the continued hostilities in eastern DR Congo, despite ongoing peace efforts between the rebels and the Congolese government facilitated by Qatar.
These talks are expected to complement the Washington peace process between Kinshasa and Rwanda, although both tracks have seen limited progress. The rebels said they are closely following developments on the ground.
“The AFC/M23 continues to closely monitor troop and military equipment deployments across all front lines, as well as logistical support to mercenaries and the operations of the coalition forces of the Kinshasa regime,” the statement further read.
