Kenyan drivers are among six truck drivers reportedly captured by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association of Kenya (LoDCA).
In response to the reports, LoDCA issued a security alert on Wednesday, October 14, warning of worsening insecurity along the Mahagi-to-Kisangani route in the DRC.
The affected corridor passes through Pimbo, Djugu, Igabriel and Bunia, areas where security concerns have reportedly grown amid years of rebel group activity.
“Serious security concerns have been reported along the route from Mahagi to Kisangani, passing through Pimbo, Djugu, Igabriel and Bunia,” LoDCA stated.
However, the association confirmed that the six drivers had since been found safe, although details surrounding their reported capture and subsequent recovery remained unclear.
“Reports indicate that six drivers, including Kenyans, had been captured by rebels but have since been found safe and sound,” added LoDCA.
The association also expressed concern over reports that dozens of people had been killed on Wednesday, highlighting the growing security risks facing Kenyan truck drivers operating along the transport corridor.
Images obtained by Vantage Ke show trucks in a damaged state, with shattered windows, deflated tyres and missing number plates. Debris believed to be cargo from the trucks is also scattered on the ground, with no people visible in the images.
The latest warning comes amid a series of attacks targeting Kenyan truck drivers in the DRC, with cargo frequently among the reported targets.
In January, unrest along the Kasumbalesa, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi corridor in southern DRC saw cargo trucks set ablaze and transport routes blocked during violent demonstrations.
In April, Kenyan driver Edwin Njuguna was killed in Bunia, prompting LoDCA to warn that repeated attacks could force an operational shutdown. A separate incident involving the detention of a driver in Beni also raised concerns about accountability.
In August, four Kenyan drivers and their co-drivers were killed in an attack by suspected rebels along the Beni-to-Kisangani route. The incident prompted truckers to park their trailers in Mambasa, Ituri Province, amid growing safety concerns.
Following the latest reports, LoDCA advised drivers waiting in Mahagi against proceeding with their journeys until security agencies confirm that conditions are safe.
Drivers already inside the DRC were also urged to notify their relatives, colleagues and association leaders about their whereabouts.
The association further called on truck drivers to remain in secure locations, exercise heightened vigilance and avoid the affected routes until reliable security sources confirm that it is safe to travel.
As of the time of publication, Kenyan security agencies had not issued a statement on the reported incident.
