Repeated Attacks in Eastern Congo Force Kenyan Truck Drivers to Rethink Travel Plans

Six truck drivers, including Kenyans, were reportedly abducted by armed rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before being found safe, prompting renewed warnings over the security of transporters operating in the region.

The Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association of Kenya (LoDCA) issued a security advisory warning drivers about worsening conditions along the Mahagi-Kisangani route. The corridor passes through Pimbo, Djugu, Igabriel and Bunia, areas where armed groups and recurring violence pose risks to commercial transport.

According to LoDCA, information received from the ground indicated that six drivers had been captured by rebels. The association later confirmed that all six had been found unharmed. However, it did not explain how they were recovered or provide further details about the reported abduction.

The association also cited reports of dozens of deaths in the affected region, highlighting the dangers facing truck drivers and local communities amid continuing violence in eastern Congo. Images circulating after the incident showed trucks with shattered windows, deflated tyres and missing registration plates. 

Cargo appeared to have been scattered across the ground, raising the possibility that the vehicles had been attacked or looted. The latest warning comes as Kenyan transporters face growing security challenges while moving goods across the DRC. 

The country is an important market for East African businesses, but armed attacks, criminal activity and political unrest have made some transport routes increasingly dangerous. Earlier this year, violence along the Kasumbalesa-Lubumbashi-Kolwezi route in southern Congo led to cargo trucks being set on fire and major roads being blocked during demonstrations.

In April, Kenyan driver Edwin Njuguna was killed in Bunia. The incident prompted transport industry representatives to warn that operations could be suspended if security conditions continued to deteriorate. The detention of another Kenyan driver in Beni also raised concerns about the protection of foreign transport workers and the handling of such cases.

The situation deteriorated further in August when four Kenyan drivers and their co-drivers were killed in an attack attributed to suspected rebels along the Beni-Kisangani road. Following the killings, truck operators halted movements in parts of Ituri Province, with many vehicles parked in Mambasa as drivers sought assurances about their safety.

In its latest advisory, LoDCA urged drivers waiting in Mahagi to delay their journeys until reliable security assessments indicated that conditions had improved. Drivers already operating in the DRC were advised to keep their relatives, colleagues and association officials informed of their movements, remain in secure locations and avoid high-risk routes.

The repeated incidents pose a challenge to regional trade, with insecurity threatening the movement of goods between East African countries and the DRC. Transporters remain central to cross-border commerce, but continued attacks have raised concerns about the security arrangements in place along routes affected by armed conflict.