Goma – The Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 movement on Thursday rejected a call by French President Emmanuel Macron to reopen Goma International Airport, describing the proposal as “untimely.”
Macron announced the push during the closing of an international conference in Paris on October 30, stating the facility would reopen to humanitarian flights “in the coming weeks,” alongside secure aid corridors.
The announcement came as over 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in international assistance was pledged for the Great Lakes region, which faces a deepening humanitarian crisis with millions displaced and facing hunger.
In a statement M23 said any reopening should await the outcome of ongoing Doha talks mediated by Qatar and supported by the United States and African Union.
The rebels accused Kinshasa of repeated drone strikes on civilian targets, including the destruction of humanitarian aircraft in Walikale and Minembwe.
They claimed the government has kept airspace over rebel-held areas closed for months to enable such operations.
Calling for an international military solution to what it views as a political conflict, the M23 said this only prolongs civilian suffering and violates ceasefire commitments.
With all displaced people now returned home, the group argued no humanitarian emergency justifies the move.
It warned that aid organizations have enriched themselves from the crisis and contributed to the survival of armed groups like the FDLR.
The M23 urged France to tread carefully to avoid reviving painful memories in the Great Lakes region and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians.