Congo Accuses M23 Rebels of GPS Spoofing Disruptions

The Congolese government has accused M23 rebels and Rwandan forces of sending false GPS signals to disrupt air traffic over North Kivu. Authorities claim these actions compromise civil aviation safety and humanitarian missions. Rwanda denies involvement. Over 1.7 million people have been displaced due to ongoing conflicts.

The Congolese government has accused the M23 rebels and Rwandan forces of issuing false GPS signals to disrupt air traffic over North Kivu province. This region has seen intensified fighting between Congo's army and the Tutsi-led M23 insurgents since 2022, with efforts including the use of drones and aircraft.

International authorities, including the U.N. and the United States, have previously pointed fingers at Rwanda for backing M23—a claim Rwanda denies. The Congolese government, in a recent statement, confirmed that false GPS signals had been emitted, complicating civil and humanitarian air missions.

Officials traced this GPS spoofing back to the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and the M23, stating these acts jeopardize civil air transport and disrupt aid missions for displaced residents. Requests for comments from RDF, M23, and the U.N. peacekeeping force MONUSCO went unanswered.

The air traffic impact remains unspecified, but the disruption affects various flights, including humanitarian and U.N. peacekeeping operations. The International Civil Aviation Organization has been contacted for potential sanctions. The conflict in North Kivu alone has displaced over 1.7 million people, swelling Congo's total displaced population to a record 7.2 million, according to the U.N.

(With inputs from agencies.)