Kisangani, May 25th, 2026 (CPA).- No loss of life or major material damage was recorded following drone attacks on Bangoka Airport in Kisangani, Tshopo province, in the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the provincial authority said on Monday during an assessment visit.
“We are here to assess the threats. Since yesterday at 5:55 p.m., we recorded attacks during which the enemy attempted to strike our positions using drones, dropping nine missiles. Fortunately, thanks to our response capacity, no loss of life or major material damage has been recorded,” declared Paulin Lendongolia, Governor of Tshopo. The provincial authority denounced before national and international opinion the repeated attacks on Bangoka civil airport, attributed to the Rwandan army and its M23 auxiliaries, describing it as the fourth offensive targeting this civilian infrastructure. “This is a war crime they are committing by attacking civilian installations through which populations from different parts of the world transit. Launching missiles against a civilian airport constitutes a violation of the laws of war,” he added. Governor Lendongolia reassured the Congolese population in general and that of Tshopo in particular about the continuation of activities at Bangoka Airport despite the attack, affirming that the situation remains under control. “We have not suspended activities here. As you have seen with me, some aircraft are landing while others are taking off. The situation is being handled and remains under control,” he specified, before calling on the population to trust the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Supreme Commander, Félix Tshisekedi. He also praised the Head of State’s attention to the security situation after the dispatch of a preliminary report that led to the deployment of the FARDC Chief of General Staff, Jules Banza, to assess the situation on the ground. During the visit, the provincial authority was accompanied by members of the provincial security committee. An expanded security meeting involving exchanges with the FARDC Chief of General Staff was also held on site by the provincial executive to assess the situation on the ground.
Attack against military installations at Bangoka Airport denounced
Didier Lomoyo, Deputy Governor
A drone attack targeting the command system of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) at Bangoka International Airport in Kisangani, in the north-east of the country, intercepted on Sunday, was denounced on Monday by the Vice-Governor of Tshopo. “Just yesterday, we faced threats in Kisangani. At Bangoka Airport, mortars were launched with the aim of destroying our defense system as well as our command structure. The enemy is cornered,” declared Didier Lomoyo, Vice-Governor of Tshopo province. He called on governorate staff and the entire population to become aware of their responsibility in preserving the country’s security, particularly in their living environment, stressing that this mission should not be left solely to local authorities or security and intelligence officers. “Everyone must safeguard the security of the DRC as a whole, and particularly that of their own living environment. We must remain constantly vigilant. The country is at war. But we know that soon Rwanda and its M23 auxiliaries will bow down,” he added. The provincial authority also called on the entire Congolese population to rally behind President Félix Tshisekedi, whom he described as committed to the struggle for the restoration of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to him, all Congolese, beyond political affiliations, must unite around the Head of State and support the directions he provides in order to contribute to building a strong and united Democratic Republic of Congo. This new drone attack, attributed to the coalition of the Rwandan army and M23-AFC, was intercepted and neutralized on Sunday by the FARDC. It follows those recorded on January 31st, February 1st, and March 1st.