The government and army of the DRC announce the deaths of 14 people in a plane crash in Kenge

A light transport aircraft crashed on Friday afternoon, September 25, 2026, in Kenge, the capital of Kwango Province in the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 14 people. The aircraft was returning from Kikwit, where the delegation on board had taken part in an official mission, and was heading toward Kinshasa.

The death toll was announced by the Congolese government and army on Friday night into Saturday. Among the victims are two general officers: Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende Joseph, first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Likulia Bakumi Lucien René, auditor general of the Congolese Armed Forces. According to the army, members of the delegation and crew members also died. No one on board survived.

The aircraft crashed in the Manzau district of Kenge, a town located more than 200 kilometers east of Kinshasa. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aircraft are the main means of transport to the provinces due to the poor road infrastructure. Aviation accidents are frequent, with the poor condition of airports and navigation equipment often cited as causes. The Congolese air fleet is on the European Union's blacklist.