The Republic of Congo’s military has released two Kenya Airways staffers who were detained for two weeks in a cargo dispute, Kenya’s foreign ministry announced on Monday.
The detention of the staffers had prompted Kenya Airways to suspend its flights to Congo temporarily. However, the state-owned airline has confirmed that flights will resume on Wednesday.
According to the airline, the detention occurred due to a cargo dispute arising from the lack of required documentation for the transported goods. The exact nature of the cargo, described as “valuable,” has not been disclosed.
The Congo military arrested the staffers from the airline’s offices at the main airport in the capital city of Kinshasa.
Although a military court granted the airline’s application for the release of the staffers, they were initially held by the military.
Kenya and Congo maintain cordial relations, with Kenya actively participating in U.N.-backed peacekeeping missions in Congo.
The Kenyan Embassy in Congo played a pivotal role in negotiating for the release of the staffers, as confirmed by Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Singoei.
Colleagues and embassy officials were granted only a brief moment with the two released staffers.
Singoei also met with the family of one of the detained staffers, assuring them of their kin’s safety and fair treatment by Congolese authorities.