Plane Crash in Congo Kills 14, Including Two Senior Military Officials
A military plane returning to the capital crashed in Kenge, killing all on board.
At least 14 people, including two senior military officials, died in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congolese military announced Friday. The deceased officials were identified as Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces.
Twelve other individuals, comprising delegation members and crew, also perished in the incident. The plane was en route to the capital city, Kinshasa, from Kikwit in the southwestern part of the country when it experienced a technical malfunction and crashed in Kenge. Local officials confirmed that everyone on board died.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident, according to Major General Efomi Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese military. The chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority, Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, stated that the cause remains unknown.
The Congolese military has been engaged in ongoing conflict with numerous rebel groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in the eastern region, since last year. This unrest has led to rebel groups seizing key cities in the area.