The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC continues to evolve in both intensity and complexity, with the increasing use of drone warfare, expanding military infrastructure, and mounting civilian suffering. Sadly, nobody within regional, continental, and international institutions is speaking out and acting in defense of innocent victims.
For instance, multiple local reports and regional accounts have raised concerns that Kisangani Airport has been used in recent months as an operational coordination point linked to drone activities in eastern Congo.
These operations have targeted areas including Masisi, Rutshuru, Minembwe, and even the outskirts of Goma, causing scores of civilian victims, including a French UN worker, Karine Buisset. These are regions trying to recover from long-standing insecurity and displacement. But alas.
Last Sunday, one of the four D-4 systems installed in Kisangani was destroyed by fire during an unclaimed incident. But regardless of whether it was the AFC/M23 or others who did it, for innocent civilians under AFC/M23 administration, the neutralization of a center being used against them will come as a relief, however short-lived it might be.
Separately, claims have also emerged that an anti-aircraft system, installed by the Congolese regime in Burundi at Bujumbura Airport, is currently operational, similar to those that exist in Kisangani and other key locations. These developments, if confirmed, would suggest a wider regional dimension to the military deployment of air-defense infrastructure connected to the conflict.
Amid competing narratives, communities in eastern DRC continue to bear the heaviest burden of the conflict. In Masisi, Rutshuru, Minembwe, and surrounding territories, civilians report repeated displacement, destruction of property, and ongoing insecurity.
Humanitarian organizations have consistently warned that the scale of suffering in these regions is escalating, with limited humanitarian access and persistent fears among local populations. To no avail. The use of aerial capabilities in densely populated or contested areas and rising concerns over civilian protection and compliance with international humanitarian law have not led to any concrete measures.
In fact, what is becoming equally controversial is not only what is happening on the ground, but what many describe as a striking silence from key international actors and mediators tasked with preventing escalation. Many believe that stronger diplomatic pressure on Kinshasa by mediators such as the United States and Qatar could help reinforce ceasefire commitments and reduce escalation risks.
On the same topic, the role of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has come under scrutiny. Despite its mandate to protect civilians and support stabilization efforts, some local and regional voices argue that MONUSCO’s visibility and responsiveness have not matched the scale or speed of developments on the ground.
Whether due to operational constraints, political limitations, or restricted access to conflict zones, MONUSCO’s perceived silence is becoming a growing point of contention in discussions about the future of peacekeeping in the region.
In any case, as the blind shelling of densely populated areas by the Tshisekedi regime and its coalition of mercenaries, Wazalendo-FDLR, and Burundian forces takes place, the central issue remains unchanged: the protection of civilians and the urgent need for de-escalation.
Stronger involvement of key actors is needed to prevent further deterioration of an already fragile situation. Without clearer engagement on their part, the risk is that both the conflict and the uncertainty surrounding it will continue to deepen, leaving civilians in eastern Congo to bear the consequences.