Overview:
Uganda Airlines said this is a precaution to ensure safety of travellers following reports of continued fighting between the rebels and the DR Congo forces around Goma in the east.
Uganda Airlines has suspended flights to Kinshasa amid the ongoing unrest following the takeover of Goma City by the M23 rebels.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, Uganda Airlines said this is a precaution to ensure safety of travellers following reports of continued fighting between the rebels and the DR Congo forces around Goma in the east.
“Uganda Airlines wishes to inform the public of the suspension of its flights to Kinshasa with immediate effect. The suspension has become necessary as a result of the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including in the Capital Kinshasa,” they said in a statement.
“Flights will remain suspended until the situation warrants normal operations. For more information about your flight, please contact our Global Call Centre on 4.256 200 406 400,” they added.
This comes after Uganda’s Embassy in Kinshasa was on Tuesday looted and a section set ablaze.
Footage circulating on social media shows rioters carrying furniture from the embassy and vandalizing vehicles, with sections of the building engulfed in flames. The protesters accuse Uganda of supporting the M23 rebel group.
The embassies of France, the United States, Rwanda, and Kenya were also targeted by the protesters.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem confirmed the attack saying that the protesters looted chairs, desks, and curtains. He also said that the Embassy staff are safe and in hiding.
The M23 rebels have taken over Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This recent development has led to the displacement of over 400,000 people and prompted the DRC to cut off diplomatic ties with Rwanda, accusing the country of supporting the rebels.
The situation has been escalating since 2022, with tensions between the DRC and Rwanda heightening due to the M23’s resurgence. The rebels have been accused of receiving support from Rwanda, which Rwanda denies. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian needs, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes.
The international community has been calling for a ceasefire and de-escalation of tensions. The East African Community has demanded that the M23 withdraw from occupied territories, and the US has condemned Rwanda’s alleged support of the rebels.
The situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes between the M23 and Congolese forces. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, and the international community is urging for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.