Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have successfully restored their diplomatic relationship, which had been strained following an incident involving Kenya Airways (KQ) personnel. The breakthrough occurred during a visit by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to DRC, where he met with President Felix Tshisekedi.
During their discussions, both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors such as trade, security, and strengthening interpersonal connections between the two nations. They specifically addressed the Kenya Airways dispute that led to flight suspensions on April 30, 2024, following the detention of KQ staff by the DRC’s Military Intelligence Unit.
Key points from the agreement include:
- Resumption of KQ Operations: Kenya Airways will resume full operations in the DRC after disruptions caused by the arrest of its personnel.
- Diplomatic Assignments: Both nations will reinstate their ambassadors to ensure diplomatic functions proceed seamlessly. The new Kenyan ambassador to DRC will start his duties immediately, while the DRC ambassador to Kenya will return to Nairobi to continue his role.
- Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC): Technical teams from both countries will lay the groundwork for a Joint Commission for Cooperation meeting at the earliest opportunity.
During the visit, Mudavadi met with various Kenyan organizations in DRC, including Equity Bank BCDC, KCB-owned TMB Bank, and Kenya Airways staff.
After delivering President William Ruto’s special message to Tshisekedi, Mudavadi reassured the DRC people that Kenya is committed to fostering peace, harmony, and economic growth in the East African region. He emphasized that Kenya fully respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC and will continue working closely to deepen bilateral relations.
