Congolese plane crash mystery puts spotlight on Russian links

IN A country with one of the world’s worst aviation safety records, reports that an aircraft had crashed into a remote forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week caused few international ripples.

But mystery over the nature of the cargo and the identity of those on board has left the Congolese government facing awkward questions.

The fate of the stricken plane, an Antonov-72 so far only identified by its former registration number, EK-72903, may also provide a glimpse into the murkier side of Russia’s attempts to reassert its influence in Africa.

Last Thursday, it crashed 59 minutes after taking off from the eastern city of Goma bound for the capital Kinshasa. None of the eight people on board survived, officials said.

The passengers were identified as the chauffeur of Felix Tshisekedi, Congo’s president, and three of his bodyguards. An armoured vehicle used by the president was also on board.

A more troubling disclosure followed when two of the four-strong crew were identified. Vitaly Shumkov and Vladimir Sadovnichy, the plane’s pilots, were not only Russian nationals, they both appeared to have a background in gun-running.

EK-72903 was once owned by an Armenian company whose proprietor has been linked to arms smuggling elsewhere in Africa.

It is no secret that Russia hopes to regain the influence the Soviet Union once wielded in Africa by wooing its leaders with arms sales, private security and “political technologists” adept at winning elections. Such attempts have often been linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Vladimir Putin who has been accused of masterminding attempts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election.

Mr Prigozhin allegedly had Congo in his sights after Russia announced in May that it was sending a team of army specialists to the country.

Some Russia media outlets speculated that Mr Prigozhin was on board the plane. But a Congolese government official said: “This gentleman is an oligarch, and if he travels, then he travels on his own plane.” The official said that while Mr Prigozhin had not been scheduled to meet Mr Tshisekedi, other Russian government representatives had requested a meeting about a forthcoming summit. It is unclear if any were on board.

At least two, as yet unidentified people, described as being “of eastern European origin” were also on the plane.

It is no secret that Russia hopes to regain the influence the Soviet Union once wielded in Africa