At least 14 people, including two senior military officials, died in a plane crash in Congo, according to the military.
The deceased officials are Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces.
“In addition to the two general officers, twelve members of the delegation and the crew members also perished in the incident,” stated Major General Efomi Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese military.
The aircraft was returning to the capital, Kinshasa, from southwestern Kikwit when it experienced a technical malfunction and crashed in Kenge, killing all on board, according to local authorities.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, Ekenge confirmed.
Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, Chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority, stated that the crash cause remains unknown.
The Congolese military has been engaged in combat with numerous rebel groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 faction in the east, following a series of attacks that resulted in the rebels capturing key cities.
