FARDC Shoots Down 8 Drones Targeting Bangboka Airport, Authorities Blame AFC/M23

Kisangani, February 2, 2026 - Bangboka Airport, located 17 kilometers from downtown Kisangani, was targeted in an armed attack using kamikaze drones between 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31 and 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 1, according to the Tshopo provincial government. Authorities reported that the drones carried unconventional munitions composed of submunitions, and attributed the attack to Rwanda and its allies in the AFC/M23, describing it as a "barbaric, unjust, and persistent aggression" against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and their security partners, eight drones were neutralized before reaching the airport. No casualties or major damage were reported. Provincial authorities stated: “This attack demonstrates once again Rwanda’s intention to undermine the Washington peace agreement.” They also called on the international community “to move beyond mere condemnations and take concrete, deterrent measures to end an aggression lasting more than three decades, and to ensure the withdrawal of foreign forces and their proxies from occupied areas of the DRC.” Residents near Bangboka Airport, who had begun to flee in fear, were urged to return home, as no evacuation is currently necessary.