DRC: Mine clearance underway at Goma airport, a crucial step towards reopening
In recent days, demining operations have been underway at Goma International Airport, which has been closed for two months due to clashes between the Congolese army (FARDC) and M23 rebels. These efforts, carried out jointly by the rebels and forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), follow an agreement signed on March 28. The goal is to secure the area to allow the withdrawal of troops and military equipment stationed in the North Kivu capital.
According to sources close to the site, teams have begun with the tarmac, a priority area for restoring aviation safety. However, the airport surroundings remain riddled with explosive devices, a legacy of the violent clashes that rocked the city. Although progress has been made, the presence of unexploded mines along access roads still prevents safe movement.
The rehabilitation of the airport, severely damaged by the war, is expected to be a complex task. The control tower, modernized in 2021 with funding from the World Bank, has been vandalized: its essential equipment destroyed and its archives looted. Other infrastructure has also been bombed, paralyzing the entire site.
On-site, captured or damaged military helicopters, along with abandoned equipment, serve as reminders of the intensity of the fighting. In light of this situation, international organizations, including the UN, are urging authorities to speed up work to reopen the airport, which is crucial for humanitarian aid delivery and the resumption of air traffic.
However, before any reopening, it will be necessary to ensure the complete removal of explosives and the restoration of critical facilities. This presents a major challenge for a region already deeply affected by months of conflict.
