DRC: the re-opening of Goma airport must be carried out ‘under the authority of national institutions’ (Prime Minister)

Kinshasa, November 2^nd, 2025 (CPA).- The re-opening of Goma airport in Nord-Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, must be carried out under the authority of national institutions, the Prime Minister has said on Friday during the 65^th meeting of the Council of Ministers, according to the minutes consulted on Saturday. ‘The re-opening of Goma airport, presented as a strategic humanitarian priority, should be carried out in a secure and coordinated manner under the authority of national institutions, in order to ensure the continuity of the humanitarian chain and the protection of civilians,’ has reported Patrick Muyaya, Minister in charge of Communication and Media, when reading the minutes. According to Minister Muyaya, the Prime Minister has asked the Minister of State in charge of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs to maintain close and sustained coordination with humanitarian actors in order to preserve access routes and ensure the continuity of essential aid, including in areas where the State’s presence remains limited. ‘At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Transport has been tasked with closely monitoring the issue of opening Goma airport strictly for humanitarian flights,’ he has added. The re-opening of Goma airport has been a measure recently advocated by French President Emmanuel Macron during the Paris conference on the Great Lakes region. At this conference, €1.6 billion have been mobilised to contribute to the assistance provided by humanitarian organisations in this region of DRC.