M23 seizes strategic airport in eastern DR Congo

15/2/2025 7:24

The March 23 Movement (M23) armed group announced on Friday that it has seized control of Kavumu Airport in South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).



"Kavumu Airport was a danger to the civilian population in the liberated areas and our positions. From now on, Kavumu and its surroundings, including the airport, are under control," Laurence Kanyuka, the group's spokesperson, stated in a post on X.



Kavumu Airport, located about 30 km from Bukavu, the provincial capital, serves as a crucial hub for humanitarian and military flights. According to local sources, Congolese forces withdrew key equipment before the airport fell to the M23.