The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed that its military shot down an aircraft over the conflict-prone Minembwe district, near the country’s southeastern borders with Rwanda and Burundi. Authorities say the plane entered Congolese airspace without official clearance and lacked any visible identification numbers, prompting immediate action by the Congolese Air Force. According to a statement released by the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), the plane was detected on military radar and classified as a threat after it ignored standard identification and clearance procedures. “Our forces were compelled to take appropriate measures to neutralize the unidentified aircraft in line with national security protocols,” the statement read.
However, rebel groups linked to the March 23 Movement (M23), which has been active in the region and currently controls large swaths of eastern DRC, claim the plane was transporting humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, to displaced civilians in territories under their control. They accuse the government of violating the fragile ceasefire deal brokered last week in Washington, D.C., which aimed to de-escalate hostilities and pave the way for a broader peace framework. There has been no independent verification of the aircraft’s cargo or origin. The incident comes just days after Rwanda and the DRC signed a U.S.-mediated peace accord that includes provisions for disarmament, respect for territorial boundaries, and the facilitation of humanitarian operations.
Tensions remain high despite the deal, as mutual distrust between the government and armed factions—including the M23 and other militias—is deep-rooted. The UN and regional observers have called for calm and a transparent investigation into the incident. Minembwe, a long-contested area in South Kivu province, has been a flashpoint in ongoing violence involving armed groups, ethnic militias, and government forces. Civilians in the region continue to face threats of displacement, hunger, and human rights abuses amid deteriorating security conditions.
