Kinshasa, September 27th, 2026 (CPA).- The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, acting on the instructions of President Félix Tshisekedi, has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast as of Monday, September 28, throughout the national territory, in tribute to the general officers who tragically died Friday in a plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, in the southwestern part of the country. The measure will remain in force until the burial of the deceased, including Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo, the first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant-General Lucien-René Likulia, Auditor General of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). Meeting on the evening of the accident in Kinshasa, the Council of Ministers was marked, according to Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, by President Félix Tshisekedi’s reference to the tragedy. On behalf of the Nation, he called for “prayerful thoughts for the victims,” paid tribute to the deceased and commended their commitment to serving the Republic, he said. “The Head of State also stressed the need to shed full light on the circumstances surrounding the accident, instructing the relevant services to conduct the necessary investigations,” Minister Muyaya said. Expressing sorrow over the pain caused by the loss among the families, as well as within the judicial and military communities, the national Executive also announced three days of national mourning ahead of the official funeral.
Call for investigations to continue
The Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), while extending its condolences to the Commander-in-Chief, urged the competent authorities, in a statement issued Sunday, to “continue the announced investigations,” in order to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the aircraft disaster. Beyond the country’s borders, the aircraft crash that occurred on September 25 in Kenge prompted an outpouring of solidarity from countries friendly to the DRC, including Burundi.
“Burundi, bound by unbreakable fraternal ties to the Democratic Republic of Congo, bows respectfully before the memory of the deceased and expresses its full solidarity with the brotherly Congolese people,” President Évariste Ndayishimiye wrote in his message of condolences addressed to his counterpart Félix Tshisekedi, the bereaved families and the FARDC High Command.