Kenyan Airways accused Congo military of harassing its staff members

Kenyan Airways (KQ) accused the Congo Intelligence military of harassing its two arrested staff members for alleged customs document violations. The KQ airline claimed in a statement that Congolese military intelligence officers arrested two staff employees on April 19, 2024, in Kinsasha.

Congolese military arrested two KQ staff members for allegedly neglecting to finish customs paperwork related to valuable cargo scheduled for transportation a week earlier.

Two Kenya Airways employees arrested, detained by military in Kinshasa https://t.co/xQ3Gg1JLZM
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 26, 2024

The airline claimed that Congolese authorities have allowed Kenyan embassy staff members only one brief visit for their staff members. Moreover, the Congolese government or foreign affairs ministry did not immediately answer their request for comments on this matter.

KQ Chief Executive Officer, Allan Kilavuka said Congolese authorities arrested their employees due to alleged missing customs documentation on cargo.

That cargo was supposed to be transported on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024. However, they wish to clarify that KQ did not accept or uplift relevant cargo due to incomplete documentation.

Allan revealed they filed an application in Congolese military court on April 24, 2024, following the arrest of KQ employees. The court heard the matter on April 25, 2024, and ordered the release of employees unconditionally to complete due process for cargo.

KQ Airline stated they feel upset by this action against innocent staff and consider it harassment targeting Kenyan Airways business. Moreover, they said KQ had not yet taken ownership of the cargo because the logistics handler was still completing the paperwork.

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According to the statement, the specific cargo was still in the clearance process through customs. Meanwhile, military intelligence officers arrived to arrest them.

KQ had not taken ownership of the cargo due to necessary documentation undergoing clearance. However, Congolese authorities claimed KQ employees were carrying cargo without customs clearance.

Since the court’s order, the military intelligence unit has not released them. Hence, Kenyan Airways KQ accused the Congo military and authorities of targeting their business and harassing their staff members.