RwandAir Cancels Flights to DRC

Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir canceled all flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo hours after Kinshasa said the airline has been barred from its airspace.

“RwandAir has decided to cancel all flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Goma with immediate effect,” the airline said on its Twitter handle on Saturday.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this may cause to our customers and we will waive change of reservation fees and offer re-issues or refunds for those affected.”

The airline added that it would update its clients on any changes.

DRC on Saturday said it had “immediately” suspended the RwandAir flights in the country with government spokesman Patrick Muyayasaying that a “stern warning is given to the Government of Rwanda” over its alleged involvement in the conflict in North Kivu, eastern DRC.

The move came after DRC on Thursday accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who are currently fighting government forces in North Kivu province, Rwanda denied any involvement.

Relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda seemed to deteriorate Saturday after DRC barred RwandAir from its airspace.

Patrick Muyaya, the spokesman for the Congolese government, announced that DRC has “immediately” suspended the flights, adding that a “stern warning is given to the Government of Rwanda” over its alleged involvement in the conflict in North Kivu, eastern DRC.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has “no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of the DRC.”

The DRC summoned Vincent Karega, the Rwandan ambassador to Kinshasa, over the rebel issue.

Mr. Muyaya also announced that the M23 rebel group is now “considered as a Terrorist

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has “no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of the DRC.”

The DRC summoned Vincent Karega, the Rwandan ambassador to Kinshasa, over the rebel issue.

Mr. Muyaya also announced that the M23 rebel group is now “considered as a Terrorist Movement”. The M23 is, therefore “excluded from the Nairobi discussion process” through which armed groups had been called to dialogue with the government to find a solution to the armed conflict in eastern DR Congo.