The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have rejected claims by the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) rebel group, confirming that their military radar detected and intercepted an unidentified aircraft violating Congo’s airspace on Monday, June 30, 2025.
In a press release issued that day, the FARDC stated that its military radar picked up an unregistered aircraft entering Congolese airspace and heading toward a conflict zone.
The military pointed out that the plane bore no visible identification marks—constituting “a severe breach of international civil aviation standards.”
Signed by FARDC Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa Efomi, the release read:
“This aircraft violated our airspace and illegally entered Congolese territory without prior authorization. Upon investigation, it was found to have no registration number.”
The statement from the military came just hours after AFC/M23 issued its own release, accusing the Congolese government of shooting at a civilian aid plane delivering humanitarian cargo to Minembwe in South Kivu.
FARDC did not name M23 directly but responded to the allegations, emphasizing that the incident was a serious national security concern.
The army clarified that its defensive measures were taken “to protect our airspace security and preserve national sovereignty,” adding that both civilian and military leadership had been informed.
The communiqué—Press Release No. 18 of June 30, 2025—reaffirmed the FARDC’s commitment to guarding against aerial threats, especially in unstable regions where armed groups operate.
