AU Raises Terrorism Concern Over M23 Attack on Congo Airport
Last update: February 6, 2026
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Attack on civilian airport in Kisangani seen as escalation in eastern DRC conflict.
The African Union said Friday that a drone attack carried out this week by the M23 armed group on a civilian airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo may amount to an act of terrorism.
CBI News reports that the Rwanda-backed M23 claimed responsibility for the strike last weekend on Kisangani airport in eastern DR Congo, a facility used by both civilians and government forces.
In a statement posted on X, the African Union said the attack was directed at airport infrastructure in a major urban centre and posed a serious threat to civilian populations, constituting a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The strike marked a significant escalation in the conflict in eastern DR Congo, where the M23 has seized large areas of territory since early 2025. The group had not previously carried out attacks so far beyond areas under its control.
M23 said it had destroyed what it described as a military drone command centre installed at Kisangani airport.
The United Nations said this week it would soon dispatch a mission to the volatile region to help enforce a ceasefire.
Qatar has been mediating talks between the Congolese government and the M23 for several months, with a commitment toward a ceasefire signed in July.
In a parallel diplomatic effort, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda formalised a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington in December.
