The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, indicated that the issue of the opening of Goma International Airport concerns the AFC/M23 group, and should be discussed in the Doha talks between it and the DRC government.
The AFC/M23 has controlled this airport since late January 2025 when it captured the city of Goma, expelling the DRC military coalition, which left many parts of it damaged, including the air traffic control tower.
At a security conference in the African Great Lakes region held in Paris on October 30, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that this airport would be opened in the next few weeks, to be used for twice-weekly relief operations.
He said, “I would like to inform you that in the coming weeks, we will open the Goma airport to receive relief aircraft for two days. It is a small airport due to its capacity. This will be done while respecting the sovereignty of the DRC so that the first relief aircraft can arrive there without delay.”
Macron made the announcement after a closed-door meeting with Félix Tshisekedi and the African Union (AU) mediator, Faure Gnassingbé, on the afternoon of October 30.
DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya echoed President Macron’s message, saying that his country’s government had the sole authority to open the airport.
“The opening of Goma airport will only be subject to the authorization of the DRC government and will only be open to emergency flights during daylight hours,” he said.
Minister Nduhungirehe, who represented Rwanda at the Paris conference, told reporters that the opening of the airport should not be rushed, especially since the AFC/M23 was not represented at the conference but is overseeing it.
He indicated that what would be possible and easier is for the issue of opening Goma airport to be discussed in the Doha peace process between the AFC/M23 and the DRC government from March 2025.
He said, “Regarding the Goma airport, you will recall that it is controlled by AFC/M23. Our understanding as Rwanda is that the decision would be taken in the Doha talks because that is where the DRC government and AFC/M23 would sit down and discuss solutions to this issue… Paris would not open this airport because those concerned are not represented.”
AFC/M23 responded
AFC/M23 announced that the message from the French President was urgent, because the decision to open Goma airport was taken in the Doha talks between it and the DRC government. This was announced by the chairman of the forum, Corneille Nangaa, who said, “AFC/M23 feels that it is not affected by the announcement to open Goma international airport.”
The spokesperson for the group, Lawrence Kanyuka, said that the DRC army has been carrying out serious attacks on civilians for some time, and that it even shot down two planes used for relief operations at the Walikale and Minembwe airports.
Kanyuka explained that while the DRC government continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, putting the lives of civilians at risk, it should not be given its due.
He said, “Furthermore, while all those who fled have returned to their areas of origin, there is no urgent need for relief operations in the liberated areas. AFC/M23 calls on France not to fall into the trap of aid organizations that have profited greatly from those who fled to the outskirts of Goma.”
AFC/M23 stated that aid organizations that support the opening of Goma airport have continued to support the FDLR terrorist group and other groups to ensure its continued existence.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, asked with whom his government had discussed the opening of the airport, did not answer, but explained that the final decision could be taken in Qatar.
Minister Barrot said: “This international conference was an opportunity to accelerate discussions on this issue, which will continue under the auspices of Qatar, adding to the new information provided here in Paris.”
