Uganda Airlines has announced the suspension of its flights to Kinshasa, citing escalating unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to a public notice issued by the airline, the decision follows the deteriorating security situation in the country.
“The airline will continue to monitor the situation and communicate to all our guests once the safety can be guaranteed,” the notice dated January 28, 2025, reads.
The suspension comes in the wake of massive demonstrations that rocked the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, on Tuesday. The protests turned violent, with Uganda’s embassy being attacked, looted, and partially set ablaze by rioters. Business activities in Kinshasa were brought to a standstill as demonstrators took to the streets, protesting what they perceive as the international community’s inaction in addressing the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
The demonstrations were triggered by the announcement from M23 rebels that they had seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. Protesters flooded Kinshasa’s main roads, disrupting traffic, blocking businesses, burning tyres, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the United States and other Western countries, as well as the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO.
M23 rebels claimed full control of Goma following intense battles with government forces, marking the third time the rebel group has taken over the strategic town in the mineral-rich region. The ongoing conflict has forced hundreds of MONUSCO staff and their families to flee Goma to neighboring Rwanda through the Gisenyi border.
The unrest in Kinshasa also saw demonstrators demanding the release of key political prisoners, including former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Jean Marc Kabinda, who is currently serving a seven-year prison term for allegedly insulting President Félix Tshisekedi.
The United Nations has reported that at least 13 peacekeepers have been killed in clashes with M23 rebels, while more than 400,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict. In a warning to the United Nations peacekeepers and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, M23 rebels accused the international forces of siding with the Kinshasa government.
The suspension of Uganda Airlines’ flights to Kinshasa is expected to have significant repercussions on the airline’s business operations and Ugandan traders who rely on the route. Kinshasa remains a key trading hub for many Ugandan businesspeople, and the current disruption is likely to impact trade and economic activities between the two nations. The airline has assured passengers that updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
As tensions continue to rise in the DRC, regional and international stakeholders are closely monitoring the unfolding crisis, hoping for a resolution that will restore stability and allow normal operations to resume.
