The political and security standoff in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has deepened after President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi directed three cabinet ministers to prepare the reopening of Goma International Airport, a move the M23/AFC rebel group immediately dismissed as “a serious miscalculation.”
The airport, one of the busiest in the Great Lakes region, has remained closed since late January when heavy fighting allowed M23 fighters to seize control of Goma. Since then, its closure has severely obstructed humanitarian operations in North and South Kivu, where hundreds of thousands of civilians continue to flee ongoing clashes.
During a high-level conference in Paris last month, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that the airport must be reopened urgently, but restricted to humanitarian flights. Western countries attending the meeting pledged €1.5 billion to support relief efforts for displaced communities in eastern DR Congo, identifying Goma’s airport as a critical entry point that must be restored before the end of the year.
Responding to these international demands, Tshisekedi ordered the ministers of interior, transport and defense to coordinate preparations for the airport’s reopening, including security assessments and logistical planning. However, the directive immediately triggered backlash from M23/AFC.
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In a late-night statement, rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka criticized Kinshasa for attempting to “plan from afar,” arguing that the airport has been heavily damaged, looted and cannot be reopened without M23 consent. He insisted that “only AFC/M23” can authorize its operation, dismissing any involvement from “Tshisekedi or anyone else.”
The airport was at the center of intense fighting on 26–27 January 2025, when SADC troops and Congolese forces attempted to defend it. The confrontation ended with FARDC soldiers retreating and SADC forces surrendering after raising their weapons, later remaining confined at the facility for more than a month.
In July, MONUSCO conducted clearance operations around the airport, removing unexploded ordnance and cleaning the surrounding areas, but access has remained under rebel control. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly urged for its reopening, calling it essential for delivering aid to isolated and displaced populations across Kivu.
Last month, M23 suggested that France’s call for reopening should be handled within the Doha peace process, where the group and the Congolese government are engaged in negotiations. They also warned international donors against “falling into the narratives of aid organizations” that they accuse of reinforcing armed groups in the region, including the FDLR.
Despite the cabinet’s directive, key observers question how Kinshasa intends to reopen and secure an airport located entirely outside its authority. This uncertainty comes even as both sides made slight progress over the weekend by agreeing on the framework for a possible peace accord under Qatari mediation.
The fate of Goma International Airport remains a critical test, not only for the peace talks underway, but also for the future of humanitarian access in one of Africa’s most fragile conflict zones.
