Kenya Airways Suspends Flights To DR Congo In Protest

Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways has suspended its flights to Kinshasa, citing the continued detention of its crew by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s military over a controversial consignment of banknotes.

On Monday, the airline announced that the suspension will begin on Tuesday due to challenges in overseeing and supporting operations in Kinshasa.

“Due to the continued detention of KQ employees by the Military Intelligence Unit in Kinshasa, Kenya Airways is unable to support our flights without personnel effectively.

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“The continued detention of our employees has 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.”

The move by KQ is set to benefit other airlines servicing the Nairobi-Kinshasa route, including Ethiopian Airlines, Precision Air, ASKY Airlines, and South African Airways.

Last week, Mr Kilavuka said two of the airline’s staff were arrested and detained on April 19, 2024, over alleged missing customs documentation on valuable cargo which was to be shipped on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024.

However, the cargo in question was not loaded or accepted by the airline due to incomplete documentation. Mr. Kilavuka mentioned that military personnel in Kinshasa took the two employees to the military section of the airport to provide statements, but they were detained without communication until April 23 when embassy officials and a Kenya Airways team were permitted to see them.

While officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have not commented on the situation yet, sources informed The EastAfrican newspaper that the issue revolves around the transportation of $8 million that was confiscated before being loaded onto the Kenya Airways plane.

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A local newspaper reported that a commercial bank attempted to export the money “clandestinely without the knowledge of the security services”.

Congolese media reported allegations against TMB Bank, which the bank dismissed. They stated that exporting banknotes in foreign currencies is a standard practice among commercial banks and does not amount to an offense, contrary to what some journalists insinuated. The bank criticized the journalists for not investigating all departments involved in such operations for their own reasons.

“Our bank has complied with all the formalities required for this operation, which is not the first of its kind and is inherent to the operation of banks, particularly for notes unfit for circulation, either because of their condition or because of their series,” TMB Bank further said.

The recent developments have turned the spotlight on intermittent diplomatic tiffs between the two countries. In December last year, DRC recalled its ambassador to Nairobi after summoning the Kenyan envoy in Kinshasa in protest against the creation of a new coalition of Congolese rebels in Nairobi.

At the heart of the conflict was the creation of a new coalition of rebel leaders that was announced in Nairobi by the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa.

Kinshasa reacted swiftly by recalling its envoy, John Nyakeru, from Nairobi and ordering Kenya to explain the incident.