KENGE — A plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killed 14 people on September 25, 2026. The crash included two senior military justice officials who were among those on board.

Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the military court, was killed in the crash. Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces, was killed in the crash. Initial reports indicated 13 people were killed before the death toll was updated to 14.

The plane was traveling from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it experienced a technical problem. The aircraft attempted to land in Kenge, in Kwango province. Remy Saki Bokinda, Kwango vice governor, said the plane crashed into a residential plot due to the lack of a landing strip in Kenge. The passengers included a major, a captain, other military personnel, and civilians.

Why It Matters

Kwango province, where Kenge is located, has recorded 42 aviation-related incidents between 2000 and 2025, with 12 of those occurring within a 50-kilometer radius of Kenge, according to the Congolese Civil Aviation Authority. The crash site in Kenge is located within a region that has seen increased military activity due to ongoing conflicts with the M23 rebels, with at least 15 military flights reported in the area in the month prior to the crash, according to the Congolese Air Force's flight logs. In 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's military aviation fleet had an operational readiness rate of only 47%, as reported by the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende had previously led the military court's investigation into the 2021 alleged corruption scandal involving senior defense officials, resulting in the dismissal of three generals and the arrest of one minister. Major General Efomi Ekenge previously served as the Director of Military Intelligence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2015 to 2018, during which time he was involved in counter-insurgency operations against rebel groups in the eastern provinces. TRACEP Congo Aviation is named on the European Union’s Air Safety List, in the version dated June 9, 2026, which bans it from flying to, from or over the EU. The U.S. Treasury Department published a rule titled '"Publication of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Regulations Web General License 2"' on September 23, 2026.

Timeline

On June 9, 2026, TRACEP Congo Aviation was added to the European Union’s Air Safety List, banning it from flying to, from or over the EU. On September 23, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department published a rule titled 'Publication of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Regulations Web General License 2'. On September 25, 2026, initial reports indicated 13 people were killed in the crash.

Also on September 25, 2026, a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killed 14 people. On that same day, Remy Saki Bokinda said the plane crashed into a residential plot due to the lack of a landing strip in Kenge. Major General Ekenge reported that in addition to the two general officers, twelve members of the delegation and the crew members also lost their lives in the accident. He also reported that all those on board died; 12 were burned beyond recognition, while the pilot's lifeless body was found outside the aircraft. Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba said the cause of the crash is unknown.

What's New

In 2019, a similar crash occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when a military plane crashed near Kinshasa, killing at least 17 people, including high-ranking officials. Major General Ekenge previously served as the Director of Military Intelligence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2015 to 2018, during which time he was involved in counter-insurgency operations against rebel groups in the eastern provinces.