The airport was closed and taken over by the M23 rebel group in January this year when the group captured the city of Goma.

Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesperson, while reading the resolutions of Friday’s cabinet meeting on the national broadcaster RTNC, said Tshisekedi emphasized the need for full cooperation among the three ministers to ensure the airport resumes operations.

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Muyaya said: “The President of the Republic directed the Minister of Internal Security, the Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Defence to work closely together to establish the security measures and logistical requirements needed to reopen Goma Airport for humanitarian operations.”

The Congolese government further decided that progress reports on efforts to reopen the airport will be submitted to President Félix Tshisekedi through the Prime Minister, to ensure close monitoring of the implementation process and make corrections whenever necessary.

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Late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Goma Airport must be reopened so it can be used for humanitarian operations.

At the time, the AFC/M23 rebel group, which still controls the airport, said Macron made the announcement at the wrong moment, arguing that reopening the airport “should be considered within the framework of ongoing talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and the African Union.”

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M23 also urged France “not to fall into the trap of aid organizations claiming to act for humanitarian purposes while they are the very ones who strengthened armed groups, including the FDLR.”

Currently, negotiations are underway in Doha between M23 and the Congolese government, and a preliminary agreement was recently signed between the two sides. Meanwhile, the United States is expected to announce the date when the presidents of Rwanda and Congo will sign a peace agreement between the two countries.