In a dramatic turn of events, two Kenya Airways (KQ) employees find themselves detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, sparking outrage and diplomatic tensions.
KQ Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka revealed on Friday that the staffers were apprehended by the Military Intelligence Unit in Kinshasa over alleged missing custom documentation for valuable cargo slated for transportation on a KQ flight on April 12th, 2024.
However, Kilavuka vehemently refuted the charges, asserting that the cargo in question had not been uplifted or accepted by Kenya Airways due to incomplete documentation.
“On April 24th, 2024, KQ filed an application in the military court for the two to be released unconditionally. The court heard the matter on April 25th, 2024, and granted KQ’s request that the two staff members be released to allow due process,” stated Kilavuka.
Despite court orders for their release, the military intelligence unit continues to hold the employees incommunicado, a move Kilavuka condemned as a violation of their rights as civilians held in a military intelligence facility.
During the arrest, the employees had their phones seized, and all access to them has been denied. Despite limited access, Kenyan embassy officials and a few KQ staff were briefly permitted to visit the detainees on April 23rd, 2024.
Addressing the disputed cargo, Kilavuka reiterated that it was not in Kenya Airways’ possession as it was still undergoing clearance in the baggage section. However, efforts to clarify this with the security team proved futile.
“The military officers took the two employees to the military side of the air wing (DEMIAP)to record statements. They were held incommunicado until 23rd April when the Embassy officials and KQ team were allowed to visit them,” Kilavuka revealed.
The arrest of KQ employees and the ensuing diplomatic standoff underscores escalating tensions and underscores the need for swift resolution to prevent further escalation. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detained employees and resolve the cargo dispute.
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