French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on October 30 to reopen Goma Airport in North Kivu for humanitarian flights appears to serve Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi’s political agenda rather than a purely humanitarian purpose. Critics argue that Kinshasa is portraying areas under the AFC/M23 control as a humanitarian crisis to delegitimize the rebels.
Macron’s decision, made after discussions with Tshisekedi during the International Conference for Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes in Paris, bypassed consultations with the AFC/M23 authorities. Currently, Goma and the surrounding areas are under the administration of the rebel movement, not Kinshasa.
Observers note that the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC is often overstated. Many communities in North and South Kivu continue daily activities: children attend school, markets operate, hospitals provide services, and infrastructure projects proceed without interruption.
Some analysts argue that the move underscores the influence of Tshisekedi’s humanitarian lobby, which uses the language of aid to consolidate political power while downplaying governance challenges in the region.
The controversy raises questions about how international actors engage with local authorities in conflict zones and whether humanitarian narratives are being used for political leverage rather than addressing genuine needs.
