Uganda Airlines Halts Kinshasa Flights Amid Unrest

‍DALLAS — Uganda Airlines (UR) has suspended its services to Kinshasa (FIH), the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Today, the Entebbe-based (EBB) airline canceled its FIH flights due to safety risks in Central Africa, which is currently experiencing widespread unrest. 

Uganda’s flag carrier operates six scheduled weekly flights between EBB and FIH using a Canadair Regional Jet, CRJ-900. Due to elevated safety risks in FIH, UR has decided to halt its services planned until safety can be guaranteed.

Unrest in Congo

On Monday, January 27, M23 rebels backed by soldiers from neighboring Rwanda took control of Goma (GOM), the largest city in eastern DRC. Surging violence has since led to instability in one of Africa's most conflict-ridden countries.

Uganda Airlines stopped its services after violent protests targeted foreign embassies in FIH. Protestors have attacked various embassies in the Congolese capital - including the Belgian, French, Ugandan, Kenyan, and US embassies - demanding the international community pressure Rwanda over its alleged involvement in the attack on GOM, thus creating a lack of safety in the city.

The carrier said it would continue to monitor the situation in the DRC and resume flights once they are safe.

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