Kenya Airways announced its decision to halt flights to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, starting Tuesday.
The move comes as a response to the failure of military authorities in Kinshasa to release two of the airline’s employees from detention, despite a court order mandating their release.
The airline’s staff members were apprehended by Congo’s military intelligence on April 19, reportedly due to alleged lapses in completing customs documentation for certain cargo.
However, Kenya Airways had refused to accept the cargo due to incomplete paperwork. Despite a military court’s directive for their release to ensure due process, the employees remain in custody.
In a statement issued on Monday, Kenya Airways expressed frustration over the prolonged detention of its employees, stating that it hindered the airline’s ability to oversee its operations in Kinshasa effectively.
Consequently, the airline has opted to suspend flights until it can adequately support its operations in the region.
Requests for comments from Congo’s government and foreign affairs ministry went unanswered at the time of reporting.
Kenya Airways emphasized its cooperation with investigating agencies and government bodies in both Congo and Kenya to facilitate a resolution to the situation.
The airline maintains its stance that its detained employees are innocent and asserts that the incident constitutes harassment targeted at its business interests.
As of now, Congolese authorities have not provided a response to these assertions by Kenya Airways.
