The M23 rebel group has warned that it will respond to any aerial attacks targeting areas under its control, saying it has adopted what it describes as a “pre-emptive defense” posture.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa Yobeuo said the group would target the source of any air operations carried out against civilians in what it refers to as “liberated zones.”
Nangaa accused the government in Kinshasa of orchestrating violence against civilians in Minembwe and the Hauts-Plateaux since January 22, describing the situation as evidence of what he termed the “moral and strategic failure” of Congolese authorities.
He further alleged that the Congolese army (FARDC), with support from allied forces including the FDLR, Wazalendo militias, Burundian troops, and foreign mercenaries, has deployed fighter jets, drones, and other military assets against civilian populations. According to Nangaa, these operations were conducted during an internet blackout.
The M23 leadership claims recent developments have shifted the balance of power in the conflict. Nangaa said the government’s reliance on air superiority was no longer decisive and warned that any aircraft used in operations against M23-held areas would be targeted.
The group also cautioned against the use of Kisangani as a base for air operations, declaring that it now considers the city a prohibited platform for launching attacks.
Despite the warnings, Nangaa said the M23 remains open to dialogue, but cautioned that continued military action by President Félix Tshisekedi’s government would, in his words, have consequences.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Kanyuka, head of the M23 communication department, claimed the group had destroyed a military drone command centre at Kisangani Airport.
He said the facility served as a key hub for the planning, coordination, and execution of operations targeting civilians and M23 positions in areas including Masisi, Walikale, Rutshuru, Lubero, Kalehe, Mwenga, and Minembwe.
Kanyuka said the action followed what he described as repeated and documented reports of civilian massacres in M23-controlled areas, which he attributed to the Kinshasa government.
He warned that the group would not remain passive while civilians are targeted, adding that it would act to neutralize threats at their source wherever such actions persist.
Kanyuka called on the government to make a clear choice between peace and war, urging strict adherence to the ceasefire if peace is chosen. He added that if war continues, the government would bear full responsibility for the consequences.
“The AFC/M23 carried out the operation in Kisangani,” Kanyuka said, adding that the government was aware of military equipment abandoned at the airports of Goma and Kavumu. He also stated that the use of drones and mercenaries is not exclusive to Kinshasa.
