Kenya Airways suspended flights to Kinshasa N’Djili on April 30, accusing the Congolese military of illegally detaining two of its employees over missing customs documents for cargo.
The detained employees have been held incommunicado by the DRC’s military intelligence unit since their arrest on April 19, with limited access granted to embassy officials and KQ staff on April 23.
The missing customs documents were related to valuable cargo intended for a Kenya Airways flight on April 12, though the carrier did not accept the cargo due to incomplete documentation.
The incident has triggered a political dispute between Kenya and the DRC, with historical cooperative relations experiencing strain amidst accusations of Kenya’s involvement with Congolese opposition figures and rebel groups.
Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka said: “we are perturbed by this action targeting innocent staff and consider it harassment targeting Kenya Airways’ business, The continued detention of the two employees made it difficult for us to supervise our operations in Kinshasa, which include customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and generally ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations. We also ask that our staff be treated humanely and respectfully during this unlawful detention. On April 25, the DRC Military Court granted a Kenya Airways application for the release of the two employees to allow due process. Despite the court orders, the military intelligence unit is still holding them incommunicado, yet these are civilians being held in a military intelligence facility.”
