The Alliance Fleuve Congo/Movement of March 23 (AFC/M23) has condemned plans by the government in Kinshasa to reopen Goma International Airport, insisting that only the rebel group has the authority to make such a decision in what it describes as “liberated territory.”
In a statement issued by the M23 Head of the Department of Communication, Lawrence Kanyuka, the group dismissed as “illusory” a decision reportedly approved by the Council of Ministers under President Félix Tshisekedi to plan the reopening of the airport from Kinshasa.
According to M23, the current government in Kinshasa “has neither the legitimacy nor the right” to manage or reopen airport infrastructure in areas under the movement’s control. The group accuses the central government of having previously “plundered and sabotaged” the same infrastructure.
“The airport can and will be reopened solely by AFC/M23, not by Tshisekedi Tshilombo or any other party,” the statement reads in part.
Military Situation
The rebel movement says it continues to monitor closely the deployment of troops and military equipment along all front lines, as well as logistical support to what it calls “mercenaries” and coalition forces allied to the Kinshasa government.
The statement suggests that AFC/M23 is keeping track of ongoing operations by government and allied forces, though it does not provide specific details about recent clashes or positions.
Kinshasa–Rwanda Dispute
M23 also distanced itself from the ongoing diplomatic dispute between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
“We wish to state clearly once and for all that the dispute initiated and continuously fueled by Kinshasa with the Republic of Rwanda in no way concerns the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Movement of March 23 (AFC/M23),” the group said.
The movement argued that the government in Kinshasa is solely responsible for its relations with neighbouring states and “must resolve its disputes without attempting to involve our organisation.”
The statement underscores M23’s effort to separate its military and political agenda from wider regional tensions, even as Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the group, allegations Kigali has consistently denied.
The remarks from M23’s communication department add another layer of contention to the already volatile situation in eastern DR Congo, particularly around Goma, a strategic city whose airport is a critical lifeline for humanitarian, commercial, and security operations.
