On Monday, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government accused M23 rebels and their Rwandan backers of disrupting air traffic in North Kivu by sending false navigation signals. This area is currently seeing intense fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
The Tutsi-led M23 rebels have been intensifying their insurgency in eastern Congo since 2022. Over the past year, military efforts to combat them have included drones and aircraft to bolster defenses.
Congo, the United Nations, the United States, and other Western governments have alleged that Rwanda supports the M23 rebels. Rwanda, however, denies these accusations, which have strained its relations with Congo.
The Congolese government stated that false GPS signals disrupting air traffic were traced to the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and M23. These disruptions not only threaten civil air transport but also humanitarian missions aiding displaced people.
With over 1.7 million displaced in North Kivu alone, the conflict has pushed the total number of displaced Congolese to a record 7.2 million. The Congolese government has sought sanctions through the International Civil Aviation Organization.