Congo's Kisangani airport attacked by suspected rebel drones, authorities say

RiddleMaster · 2026-03-02T18:37:24+00:00

Drones attacked Kisangani airport in the DRC, reportedly by the AFC/M23 rebel group, which blames prior assaults on its positions. Four drones were intercepted, with no reported casualties, amid ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.

RiddleMaster

2026-03-02 18:37:24

Abstract generation in progress

March 2 (Reuters) - Drones have attacked the airport serving Kisangani, a strategic city in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo far from active front lines in the east, local officials said on Monday, blaming the AFC/M23 rebel group and neighbouring Rwanda.

AFC/M23, which U.N. experts say is backed by Rwanda, launched drones at the airport in early February, saying it had been used to attack AFC/M23 positions and civilians in areas under its control.

The Reuters Inside Track newsletter is your essential guide to the biggest events in global sport. Sign up here.

AFC/M23 controls swathes of eastern Congo after a rapid offensive last year in which it seized the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda denies backing the rebels.

AFC/M23 could not immediately be reached for comment on the latest attack.

The government of Tshopo province, where Kisangani is located, said four kamikaze drones were intercepted and shot down near the airport between Sunday afternoon and early evening, some as a passenger aircraft was preparing to land. It did not report any damage or casualties.

It was not clear whether any other drones had hit targets, and Tshopo’s governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Reuters witness at the airport heard several explosions throughout Sunday afternoon and bursts of gunfire that sent staff, vendors and nearby residents fleeing. Operations resumed in the evening.

Fighting has continued in eastern Congo in recent weeks on several fronts, despite mediation efforts by parties including Qatar and the United States.

Last Tuesday, Congo’s army killed AFC/M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma, one of the group’s most visible figures, in a drone strike near the coltan-mining town of Rubaya.

Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Clement Bonnerot; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Kevin Liffey

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Suggested Topics:
Africa

X
Facebook
Linkedin
Email
Link

Purchase Licensing Rights

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

2 Likes