APA – Kinshasa (DR Congo) – A suspected M23 rebel drone attack early on Saturday at Goma airport in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has left several damages on several military and civilian airplanes, Congolese military sources confirmed.
Goma International Airport is currently used by both the Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO peacekeeping forces in their military operations against M23 rebel groups.
The DR Congo military officially admitted to the latest attack, and said the explosions were the result of recent military operations against the M23 rebel group.
Lieutenant Colonel Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, DR Congo’s military spokesperson in North Kivu province told reporters that a drone shell fell on Saturday, February 17, at Goma International Airport in North Kivu in eastern DR Congo at around 2 a.m local time (midnight GMT)
The first ever rebel drone attack inside a strategic airport in Eastern DR Congo is considered as an embarrassment to DR Congo authorities as M23 rebels advance towards Goma town, a strategic city of more than 2 million people on the border with Rwanda.
The drone attack comes a few days after South African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have suffered their first fatalities earlier this week since their recent deployment to quell a rebellion.
The troops are part of a regional force helping DR Congo’s military as it confronts M23 rebels.
South Africa began deploying troops to eastern DR Congo in December last year under the banner of the 16-member regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
In the meanwhile, fresh fighting were reported Saturday morning, February 17, between the FARDC and the M23 rebels in the locality of Mweso, Bashali Mokoto grouping in Masisi territory.
Local residents confirmed to APA via telephone that the fighting is also taking place in Mbuhi, less than 3 kilometres from the Mweso commercial centre against M23 positions.
Heavy weapons fire can be heard in the locality of Mweso, particularly in Mbuhi, Bushenge and Pilote, according to the same source.
CU/as/APA
