Société Civile: Après Le Crash De Kenge, Enquête Demandée Sur L'Aérodrome

• A Tracep aircraft crash in Kenge on Friday, September 25, resulted in 17 fatalities, including two high-ranking military generals.
• The Cadre de concertation provincial de la société civile du Kwango is demanding an inquiry into the alleged decommissioning and sale of Kenge's former airfield approximately eight years ago.
• Civil society vice-president Symphorien Kwengo stated that Kenge now lacks a modern, operational airport for emergency aerial solutions.
• The civil society also advocates for government-led technical and feasibility studies to construct a new, modern airport in Kenge.
• No ground casualties were reported from the crash, which occurred in a plot of land, according to the Vice-Governor of Kwango.

The civil society organization emphasizes that Kenge's strategic location, close to Kinshasa, warrants considering such an infrastructure as a national priority.

A tragic air crash involving a Tracep company aircraft occurred in Kenge on Friday, September 25, resulting in 17 fatalities, according to official reports. The incident, which saw the plane crash into a plot of land, fortunately caused no casualties on the ground, as confirmed by the Vice-Governor of Kwango. Among the victims were two high-ranking military officers: Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo, who served as the first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant-General Lucien-René Likulia, the Auditor General of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) near the High Military Court. This information was conveyed in a communiqué signed by the army spokesperson, Major-General Sylvain Ekenge.

In the wake of this disaster, the Cadre de concertation provincial de la société civile du Kwango has called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged decommissioning and sale of Kenge's former airfield. Speaking to Radio Okapi on Saturday, September 26, Symphorien Kwengo, the vice-president of the civil society group, indicated that the former airfield was reportedly decommissioned and subsequently sold approximately eight years ago by the provincial executive in power at that time. The organization stresses that its demands are based on information it possesses and underscores the necessity for thorough verifications and inquiries to establish the full context of this transaction.

The civil society body is specifically seeking clarity on several critical aspects of the former airfield's fate. They are urging authorities to determine the exact conditions under which the site was decommissioned and allegedly transferred. Furthermore, they demand a detailed examination of the procedural steps followed during this operation, the ultimate destination of the land, and the administrative decisions that led to the disappearance of this vital infrastructure. Symphorien Kwengo emphasized that these questions warrant serious consideration, particularly given that Kenge currently lacks a modern and operational airport capable of serving as an emergency aerial solution.

The call for an inquiry highlights a significant legal and practical concern: the potential for irregular administrative processes leading to the loss of public infrastructure. The civil society's insistence on understanding the 'procedure followed' and the 'administrative decisions' points to a desire for accountability and adherence to proper governance. This focus on past actions is directly linked to the present-day vulnerability of the region in the event of aerial emergencies, as tragically underscored by the recent crash.

Beyond the investigation into the former airfield, the civil society is also advocating for a forward-looking solution to Kenge's aviation infrastructure deficit. They have urged the government to initiate technical and feasibility studies for the construction of a new, modern airport in the city. The organization argues that Kenge's geographical position, being in close proximity to Kinshasa, positions it to play a strategic role in facilitating exchanges between the capital and the wider Grand Bandundu region.

The civil society organization emphasizes that Kenge's strategic location, close to Kinshasa, warrants considering such an infrastructure as a national priority. They advocate for a clear distinction between two separate, albeit related, issues: first, establishing the precise circumstances of the alleged decommissioning and sale of the old airfield, and second, actively exploring the possibility of equipping Kenge with a new, state-of-the-art airport facility. This dual approach aims to address both historical irregularities and future developmental needs for the region.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Okapi