The strategic airport of Kisangani, a major city in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was targeted this weekend by an attack of "kamikaze drones", according to the government of Tshopo province in a statement sent to AFP on Monday.

"Kamikaze drones carrying munitions (...) targeted the airport" between Saturday and Sunday, according to the local government.

"Eight enemy drones were neutralized before reaching their target," local authorities stated. No casualties were reported.

Kisangani, a city of more than 1.5 million inhabitants located on the banks of the Congo River, in the heart of the vast Central African country, depends largely on its airport, due to the poor condition of the roads.

Its civilian airport is also used by the Congolese army and its aircraft.

The runway is used in particular for the takeoff of attack drones and fighter jets of the Congolese army, which regularly carry out strikes on the positions of the M23 and the Rwandan army, more than 400 km from Kisangani.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but local authorities accuse the M23 and Kigali of being behind it.

The DRC has been grappling with the resurgence of the anti-government M23 group, supported by Kigali and its army, since 2021. The M23 seized the major cities of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February of the same year.

In early December, the armed group launched a new offensive on the city of Uvira, bordering Burundi, even as the DRC and Rwanda were ratifying a peace agreement under the auspices of Washington.

Explosions were heard until 2:00 a.m. Sunday near the airport, causing some residents to flee, according to witnesses on the scene.

"I couldn't stand the explosions during the night," said a resident, who left for the city center located about twenty kilometers from the airport.

"The situation is under control" and "people living around the airport are encouraged to return to their homes," the provincial government assured on Monday.