According to the Congolese Press Agency, four Rwandan drones were intercepted and shot down within the airport perimeter as a commercial plane approached; while Actualite.CD reported that there were no casualties and only some windows were damaged by shrapnel.

This latter publication detailed that the first attack was thwarted; while the other three drones were intercepted by airport security forces.

Following the incident, the control tower remained intact and operational, although one of the drones crashed to the ground as an aircraft announced its landing, according to provincial government sources.

Some residents of the area temporarily left their homes as a precaution.

The Tshopo government blamed the attacks on rebels from the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement (AFC/M23), supported by Rwanda, who claimed responsibility for a previous attack in late January.

jdt/arm/ro/kmg