Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, has responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments regarding the reopening of Goma International Airport. Macron stated that the M23 rebels and their allies were responsible for the delays in reopening the airport, citing that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) had met all administrative conditions. However, Nduhungirehe rejected this assertion, arguing that Macron’s remarks were inconsistent with the outcomes of the October 30 Humanitarian Conference on the Great Lakes Region in Paris.
During the conference, it was agreed that the conditions for reopening the airport would be negotiated in Doha, and Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda had not taken a different stance. He also pointed out that France’s own foreign minister had acknowledged that the airport matter would be addressed through Doha-based negotiations. Nduhungirehe challenged the idea that Kinshasa’s administrative directives could determine the airport’s status, as the Congolese government does not physically hold the airport.
The minister argued that the reopening of the airport cannot depend on “administrative conditions” put forward by the party to the conflict that does not physically hold the airport. Instead, he emphasized that the discussion must involve the de facto authorities that control the area, for reasons of realism and efficiency. Nduhungirehe also highlighted the contradictory expectations between Paris and Kinshasa, noting that the “administrative conditions” laid down by Kinshasa differ from those laid down by Paris.
The real barrier to reopening the airport, according to Nduhungirehe, is the ongoing military activity, with Kinshasa carrying out daily bombardments targeting both M23 positions and Banyamulenge civilian areas. He emphasized that the effective cessation of these bombings is necessary for the reopening of the airport, rather than the “administrative conditions” imposed by Kinshasa. Nduhungirehe reminded France that the first protocol of the Doha framework agreement, signed on November 15, is centered on ensuring humanitarian access that is “unhindered, safe, and sustainable.”
The dispute over the airport continues to test the fragile Qatar-led peace process, with both sides signing a framework agreement earlier this year but implementation being uneven. The future of Goma Airport has become a focal point of regional and international diplomacy, with Kinshasa, Kigali, Paris, and Doha all publicly weighing in. The airport’s reopening is crucial for humanitarian operations in North Kivu, as it is the main logistical hub for supplies and peacekeeping operations. The control of the airport remains a strategic centerpiece in the conflict, with Kinshasa seeking to restore sovereignty and M23 maintaining control to reinforce its bargaining power.