A harrowing incident unfolded this Saturday, February 17, at Goma International Airport, where a shell reportedly fell around 2 a.m., causing damage to a wing of a Sukhoi Su-25 military aircraft. Preliminary information suggests that the shell was launched by a drone, heightening concerns about security in the region.

Sources, in contact with Radio Okapi, confirmed the damage to the military aircraft and expressed the gravity of the situation. However, the army has not yet issued any official statement regarding the incident, leaving the origin of the shell shrouded in mystery.

Despite the unsettling event, airport activities continued without disruption, maintaining a semblance of normalcy in Goma on Saturday.

Simultaneously, reports of ongoing clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and M23 rebels emerged from the Masisi territory. The morning of February 17 witnessed intense fighting in the locality of Mweso within the Bashali Mokoto grouping. The conflict appears to be concentrated around Mbuhi, located less than 3 kilometers from the Mweso commercial center, with the FARDC engaged against M23 positions.

Local sources on the ground have reported heavy weapon fire in the Mweso locality, specifically in Mbuhi, Bushenge, and Pilote, amplifying concerns about the escalating violence in the region.

Meanwhile, in the Nyiragongo territory to the north of Goma, a tentative calm prevailed on the front line this Saturday. The situation, however, remains precarious, with the specter of conflict looming over the region.

As tensions escalate and uncertainty prevails, the international community closely watches the developments in North Kivu, emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to bring about stability and peace to the volatile region.