Uganda Airlines suspends flights to Kinshasa as protestors attack embassies
Uganda said suspension of its flights to Kinshasa was as a result of the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo
What you need to know:
- "Chairs, desks, tables have been looted. The curtains have also been pulled out," said Okello Oryem, Uganda's state minister for foreign affairs.
Uganda Airlines on Tuesday said it had suspended its flights to Kinshasa with immediate effect after rioters stormed embassies and started fires in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital over M23 rebels offensive in the country’s east.
“The suspension has become necessary as a result of the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including in the Capital Kinshasa. Flights will remain suspended until the situation warrants normal operations. For more information about your flight, please contact our Global Call Centre on +256 200 406 400,” reads part of the statement from the national carrier.
The demonstrators in Kinshasa targeted Western and African countries they accuse of complicity in Kigali's support of M23 rebels, who have overrun the eastern provincial capital Goma.
Missions belonging to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and the United Nations were all assaulted, European diplomats told Reuters.
Several embassy gates were set on fire.
A Reuters reporter in Kinshasa saw the Ugandan embassy being ransacked.
"Chairs, desks, tables have been looted. The curtains have also been pulled out," said Okello Oryem, Uganda's state minister for foreign affairs.
"People are living under fear because there are marauding youths who are going from place to place burning embassies," he added in comments on NTV Uganda's X social media platform.
Congo's Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya urged protesters to stop and later said the situation had been brought under control.
"We have every right... to express our anger, but let's do it peacefully," he told local TV. "Let's not attack the consular infrastructures of countries accredited in Congo."
During Parliament’s plenary session in Kampala, Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju attributed the burning of Uganda’s embassy in DRC to what he termed as “reckless tongue” of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kaineruba saying the actions in DRC are due to the First Son’s public statements mocking Congo.
He also tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to update the Country on its current investment project of constructing roads to connect Uganda to Eastern DRC.
“You know we have invested in roads linking us to Eastern DRC, you also know that we are paying almost Shs1 trillion to DRC because of stealing its gold. We have been paying money in the budget I am only requesting if you find pleasure in asking the Minister for Regional Corporation to update us on the investment,” Mr Ssemujju said.
Before Mr Ssemujju, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi also asked government for an update about what was happening at Uganda’s border with DRC.
“There is a brewing conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), DRC is our neighbor, there are a couple of Ugandans who are in DRC and what is happening there is of great concern for us as a country. For about 4years, the Ugandan Ambassador to DRC hasn’t been accredited, so I keep wondering about our relationship with DRC, what it like. While Uganda waived Visa fees for DRC, DRC hasn’t returned the favour. So it appears like we have some kind of frosty relationship with DRC and now with the ongoing conflict there, it is concerning,” Mr Ssenyonyi said.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Stay updated by following our WhatsApp channel https://bit.ly/4aYJlp3
