Congo Airways continues to face serious operational and management failures that are compromising any effective and sustainable recovery, according to the Minutes of the Eighty-Third Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers.
The Présidence de la République Démocratique du Congo was informed of the report of the joint investigation mission composed of the General Inspectorate of Finance, the High Council of the Portfolio and the Civil Aviation Authority, which was sent to Congo Airways SA in December 2025. The mission examined the facts reported by a group of the airline’s agents and evaluated the regularity, compliance and performance of its administrative, financial and operational management.
The findings indicate that, despite the efforts undertaken within the framework of the Emergency Recovery Plan for the company, the financing of which was instructed during the 111th meeting of the Council of Ministers on 15 September 2023 and referenced again at the third meeting on 28 June 2024, Congo Airways continues to face serious operational and management failures that compromise any effective and sustainable recovery.
This deteriorating situation poses significant legal, financial and reputational risks to the State as shareholder. It is of particular concern as, in the absence of rigorous planning and a substantial strengthening of governance, it could jeopardise the renewal process of the aircraft fleet recently acquired by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). The arrangements relating to the acquisition, financing and capitalisation of these aircraft within Congo Airways are to be fully investigated.
It is further expected that the Congolese State will fulfil its financial obligations to the company by settling the fees due, enabling it to mobilise the resources necessary for its recovery.
Drawing conclusions from these findings, the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, instructed the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport, Communications and Rural Development, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Portfolio, under the supervision of the Prime Minister and with the assistance of other relevant ministries and public bodies, to produce an updated, realistic and rigorously financially structured Recovery Plan.
The plan is to be accompanied by clear mechanisms for internal control, regulatory compliance, an in-depth audit of human resource management and regular institutional reporting to the State shareholder.
These instruments are intended to form the basis of a comprehensive and coherent restructuring of the company’s managerial governance, aimed at restoring management discipline, strengthening accountability, improving transparency in decision-making and aligning internal practices with recognised standards of good governance.
They are also expected to support the definition of an optimal management model based on principles of performance, financial sustainability and operational efficiency, ensuring the company’s long-term viability, its competitiveness in the air transport market and the preservation of the State’s strategic interests as shareholder.
