As pressure continues to mount regarding the reopening of Goma International Airport, AFC-M23 believes that the urgency lies elsewhere. During a press conference held in Goma on Wednesday, AFC-M23 initially acknowledged the existence of a humanitarian crisis, even in the areas it governs in the North and South Kivu provinces.
However, it maintains that the urgent issue in these regions is the reopening of banks, which, according to AFC-M23, penalizes the population, especially those whose money remains locked away.
“We are not saying that there is no humanitarian crisis in our area,” stated Ms. Fanny Kaj at the beginning of her speech. “The urgency is the reopening of banks. The confiscation of people’s money is the crisis we are experiencing,” she clarified.
Regarding Goma International Airport, AFC-M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka emphasized that extensive rehabilitation is needed before considering any reopening.
“The airport is not operational,” he explained, noting that everything has been damaged. “The control tower has been completely destroyed,” he reported.
AFC-M23 indicated that the motivations presented by the Government for this reopening are primarily political. “The reasons given are purely political, and have nothing to do with humanitarian concerns,” Lawrence Kanyuka stated.
Nevertheless, they left the door open: for AFC-M23, the question of reopening Goma International Airport will only be discussed within the framework of ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar.
Kivu News Today
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