For the second time in a month, Bangboka Airport in Kisangani was the scene of a kamikaze drone attack on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Although the attack caused no casualties, it marks an escalation in the use of aerial technologies at the heart of the Congolese conflict.

Course of the attack

According to the Tshopo provincial government, the defense system intercepted four explosive devices between 3:48 p.m. and 7:48 p.m. One of the drones was shot down as a CAA civilian aircraft was beginning its landing procedure, narrowly averting a humanitarian catastrophe.

The strategic stakes of Kisangani

Bangboka airport is not just a civilian hub; it is a key component of Kinshasa's military infrastructure:

1. Operational base: The runway serves as a starting point for attack drones and fighter jets of the Congolese army (FARDC).
2. Symbolic target: Located 800 km from the Goma front, Kisangani is experiencing the projection of force by the M23, proving that the group can strike far from its eastern bases.

A "response" from the M23 after the death of Willy Ngoma

The Rwandan-backed rebel movement claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday evening. This attack appears to be a direct act of retaliation.

1. Revenge: The M23 explicitly mentioned the death of its military spokesman, Willy Ngoma , killed last Saturday by a government drone strike in Rubaya.
2. Legitimation: The group claims to have conducted a "targeted operation" to destroy Kinshasa's air capabilities before they could be used against its positions.

"The blood of Willy Ngoma will neither be forgotten nor passed over in silence," the rebel organization warned in its statement.

The drone: the new master of the battlefield

Since January 2025, the war in the DRC has mutated. The widespread use of drones by both sides is transforming urban areas into potential targets. By striking Kisangani for the second time (after the attacks at the end of January), the M23 seeks to cripple the FARDC's air advantage in a resource-rich region scarred by three decades of violence.