Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, has confirmed that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will have no role in the reopening of Goma International Airport.
The minister’s remarks follow a regional security meeting on the Great Lakes Region held in Paris on October 30, 2025, where French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the airport would reopen within weeks. Macron also called on Qatar and the United States to provide support to make the reopening possible.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot explained that the Paris meeting aimed to accelerate diplomatic discussions paving the way for the airport’s reopening. He added that the final decision would be reached during the Doha peace talks between the AFC/M23 coalition which currently controls Goma and the DRC government.“This international meeting was an opportunity to fast-track dialogue on this issue. The talks will continue under Qatar’s mediation, building on progress achieved here in Paris,” Barrot said.
On November 1, DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated that civil aviation and airport authorities under the DRC government remain the only legitimate institutions responsible for managing Goma International Airport. “If AFC/M23 truly had authority over the airport, they would have already begun operating it since January when they took control. Although they control the area illegally, they have no right to decide which planes can land there,” Muyaya said.
However, Minister Nduhungirehe dismissed Muyaya’s claims, clarifying that France which organized the Paris meeting had already explained that the decision on reopening would be made in Doha, not by the DRC government. “France’s proposal regarding Goma airport reopening does not involve the DRC government. Only MONUSCO and AFC/M23 will play a role in this process,” Nduhungirehe stated.
President Macron indicated that once reopened, Goma International Airport would initially accommodate humanitarian flights twice a week, as part of efforts to restore stability and support relief operations in eastern DRC.
