AFC/M23 Claims Drone Attack on Kisangani Airport

KISANGANI March 2, 2026 - The Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) has officially claimed responsibility for the drone attacks targeting Kisangani-Bangboka International Airport in Tshopo Province on Sunday, March 1. In a statement, the rebel movement described the operation as a “targeted mission” to “neutralize and destroy drones” that, according to them, were being prepared to “massacre civilians and attack AFC/M23 positions” near Kisangani. The group emphasized that its actions are part of its “patriotic duty to protect innocent populations.” Local sources and provincial authorities had reported that four drones were intercepted over the airport on Sunday. The first drone was thwarted around 3:00 PM local time, followed by three additional “kamikaze” drones between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Shrapnel from the drones damaged windows in some buildings, but there were no injuries or disruptions to the airport’s control tower. The provincial government confirmed that all four drones were neutralized, noting that one crashed as a CAA aircraft announced its landing. Residents in nearby areas temporarily evacuated as a precaution. The governor of Tshopo Province had previously attributed the attacks to the AFC/M23 and Rwanda. The rebels had also claimed responsibility for a previous drone strike on Bangboka Airport in late January. Local authorities had reported those incidents on January 31 and February 1 before the army declared the situation under control.