Johannesburg, November 23, 2025. In a landmark declaration at the G20 Summit in South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a stinging indictment of the M23 rebel group, confirming that despite the Democratic Republic of Congo fulfilling all required procedures to reopen Goma International Airport for humanitarian aid, the M23 rebels continue to obstruct the process.
“The effort has not been made by M23 and those who hold Goma Airport, even though the DRC has already taken all necessary administrative steps,” Macron stated unequivocally before global leaders.
This statement, delivered on one of the world’s largest diplomatic stages, vindicates the DRC’s position and exposes the ongoing obstruction by M23, a group widely known to operate with the support of Rwanda’s regime under Paul Kagame.
How the Goma Airport Reopening Initiative Began
The push to reopen Goma International Airport began in October 2025, when French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a high-level humanitarian conference in Paris focused on the crisis in the Great Lakes region. During the event, Macron announced France’s intention to facilitate the reopening of the airport, which had been closed since January 2025 following its seizure by the M23 rebel group. He stressed that humanitarian flights would resume “in the coming weeks,” alongside the creation of secure humanitarian corridors, and crucially affirmed that all efforts would respect the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Paris conference also mobilized over €1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for the region, a major diplomatic win for Kinshasa.
DRC Did Its Part — But M23 Sabotaged the Process
The French president made it clear that Kinshasa acted in good faith. All technical and administrative conditions were fulfilled to allow humanitarian flights to resume at Goma, the vital hub in North Kivu.
Instead of responding with cooperation, M23 has maintained its illegal occupation, effectively weaponizing humanitarian access and prolonging the suffering of millions.
This public acknowledgment from France confirms what Congolese authorities and international observers have been saying for months: it is not Congo blocking aid, it is the Rwandan-backed rebels.
€1.5 Billion in Relief Mobilized — Now M23 Must Be Held Accountable
DRC PEACE EFFORT
France:DRC Cleared Goma Airport,M23 Still Blocking Humanitarian Access
Nov 23, 2025
May 15, 2026
4 min read
Published
Updated:
Johannesburg, November 23, 2025. In a landmark declaration at the G20 Summit in South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a stinging indictment of the M23 rebel group, confirming that despite the Democratic Republic of Congo fulfilling all required procedures to reopen Goma International Airport for humanitarian aid, the M23 rebels continue to obstruct the process.
“The effort has not been made by M23 and those who hold Goma Airport, even though the DRC has already taken all necessary administrative steps,” Macron stated unequivocally before global leaders.
This statement, delivered on one of the world’s largest diplomatic stages, vindicates the DRC’s position and exposes the ongoing obstruction by M23, a group widely known to operate with the support of Rwanda’s regime under Paul Kagame.
How the Goma Airport Reopening Initiative Began
The push to reopen Goma International Airport began in October 2025, when French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a high-level humanitarian conference in Paris focused on the crisis in the Great Lakes region. During the event, Macron announced France’s intention to facilitate the reopening of the airport, which had been closed since January 2025 following its seizure by the M23 rebel group. He stressed that humanitarian flights would resume “in the coming weeks,” alongside the creation of secure humanitarian corridors, and crucially affirmed that all efforts would respect the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Paris conference also mobilized over €1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for the region, a major diplomatic win for Kinshasa.
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DRC Did Its Part — But M23 Sabotaged the Process
The French president made it clear that Kinshasa acted in good faith. All technical and administrative conditions were fulfilled to allow humanitarian flights to resume at Goma, the vital hub in North Kivu.
Instead of responding with cooperation, M23 has maintained its illegal occupation, effectively weaponizing humanitarian access and prolonging the suffering of millions.
This public acknowledgment from France confirms what Congolese authorities and international observers have been saying for months: it is not Congo blocking aid, it is the Rwandan-backed rebels.
€1.5 Billion in Relief Mobilized — Now M23 Must Be Held Accountable
Macron also announced that France and its international partners raised over €1.5 billion to support humanitarian efforts in the DRC, a tenfold increase from earlier pledges.
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“We were at €150 million before the summit. Now, we’ve exceeded €1.5 billion. This is essential,” he said.
While this funding is critical, Macron emphasized that it will mean nothing if armed groups continue to block access to affected populations.
Global Community Aligns Behind Congo — Rwanda Isolated
Macron’s statement comes on the heels of growing international frustration with the destabilizing role of Rwanda in eastern DRC. UN Security Council Resolution 2773, the Washington Agreement of June 2025, and now France’s public position at the G20, all point to one truth: Kigali is backing rebels who are violating Congo’s sovereignty and international humanitarian law.
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France, the United States, Qatar, Angola, and the African Union have all called for the disarmament of M23 and the restoration of Congolese authority over strategic zones like Goma.
Congo’s Message: We Are Ready for Peace, But We Will Not Be Held Hostage
President Félix Tshisekedi’s government has remained committed to peace, diplomacy, and humanitarian access. The DRC has taken every possible measure to ease civilian suffering, even amid ongoing aggression.
Now, the world must act. Macron’s words at the G20 must not remain symbolic; they must translate into pressure, sanctions, and accountability.
The DRC has spoken. France has confirmed. The only blockade remaining is the one held by Kagame’s rebels.
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