DR Congo plane crash kills 17, including two senior military justice officials

At least 17 people, including two senior military justice officials, were killed when a light aircraft crashed in the southwestern

KINSHASA: At least 17 people, including two senior military justice officials, were killed when a light aircraft crashed in the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the country’s Transport Ministry.

The aircraft crashed at around 1300 GMT on Friday near Kenge, in Kwango province, more than 200 kilometres east of the capital, Kinshasa.

The aircraft, a Let 410 UVP operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, was carrying a delegation of military justice officials returning from an official mission to Kikwit in neighbouring Kwilu province, according to the armed forces.

The Transport Ministry said all 13 passengers and four crew members on board died in the accident.

Among those killed were Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo, who served as the first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-Rene Likulia, the auditor general of the armed forces.

The deaths of the two senior officials represent a significant loss for the country’s military justice system. Both held senior positions in the military legal structure and were involved in important judicial proceedings.

Likulia had played a prominent role in the prosecution of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila, who was tried in absentia by the High Military Court in 2025.

In August 2025, Likulia reportedly requested the death penalty for Kabila over a number of serious charges, including war crimes, treason and organising an insurrection.

Kabila was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia in September 2025. The case had attracted considerable attention because of the former president’s political background and the seriousness of the charges brought against him.

Following Friday’s crash, President Felix Tshisekedi ordered an investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight conditions, crew records and other relevant evidence as part of the inquiry.

The crash occurred in a country where air travel remains an important means of transportation because of the vast geographical size of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the limited condition of its road infrastructure.

Large parts of the country have difficult or poorly maintained road networks, making air transport particularly important for travelling between major cities and remote provinces.

However, the country’s aviation sector has also faced safety concerns. Some airports and aviation facilities have limited infrastructure, while navigation and other aviation equipment can be inadequate in certain areas.

The latest accident has once again highlighted the challenges facing air transport in the DRC, where aircraft are frequently used to connect areas that are difficult to reach by road.

Officials have yet to release a detailed account of the circumstances immediately preceding the crash. Further information is expected as investigators examine the wreckage and gather evidence.

The authorities have also not indicated whether weather conditions, mechanical failure, human error or other factors may have contributed to the accident.

The government has expressed its intention to establish the cause through the official investigation. Further findings are expected to clarify what led to the crash and whether any safety or operational issues were involved.

The deaths of the 17 people, including the two senior military justice officials, have prompted mourning across the country as authorities begin the process of investigating the tragedy.