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M23 Rebels Claim Goma International Airport.

Today, the 28th January 2024, M23’s military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma, has announced that the rebel group has taken full control of Goma International Airport.

The airport’s capture comes less than 48 hours after M23 seized the key parts of city Goma. Confirming the development through his X account, Lt. Col. Ngoma stated, “The airport of Goma is fully secured by the lions [M23 forces].”

On January 26, 2025, M23 shut down the airspace over the airport, accusing the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and allied militias of using it to transport weapons, which they claim posed a threat to civilians.

The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in and around Goma, continues to escalate.

Goma International Airport is a key facility in North Kivu, serving as the region’s main air transport hub. By 2020, it was capable of accommodating up to seven Airbus A320 planes at once.

For years, the airport has played a crucial role as a logistical base for FARDC, United Nations peacekeeping operations (MONUSCO), international agencies, and businesses operating in eastern DRC.

This article was written by
Picture of Kennedy Rukundo

Kennedy Rukundo

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