Three soldiers and two civilians were killed and 11 other people injured in an accident involving DR Congo President Joseph Kabila’s motorcade, his office said yesterday.
The accident happened on a road in the southwest of the country, 220 kilometres south of Kinshasa, as Kabila was returning to the capital on Tuesday.
“Last night, a vehicle in the presidential motorcade was hit on the Matadi highway at Kimpese by a truck carrying cement,” communications official Yvon Ramazani said yesterday.
“Three soldiers in the Republican Guard were killed along with two civilians who were nearby,” he said.
Seven soldiers and four civilians were also injured, Ramazani said, adding that the accident had been caused by heavy rain. Kabila “stayed on the site until the emergency services arrived, and personally supervised the ambulance evacuation of dead and injured,” he said.
The Republic Guard is an elite force tasked with the protection of the president.
Kabila was returning from a stay in the sea port of Matadi.
Roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a sprawling, poverty-stricken country, are notorious for accidents. Poor road surfaces, overladen vehicles and excessive speed are often the causes of mishaps.
Kabila yesterday met in Kinshasa with the presidents of the neighbouring Republic of Congo and Angola, Denis Sassou Nguesso and Joao Lourenco, for a tripartite meeting.
![Democratic Republic of Congou2019s President Joseph Kabila meets Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Angolau2019s President Joao Lourenco at the State House in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday. Democratic Republic of Congou2019s President Joseph Kabila meets Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Angolau2019s President Joao Lourenco at the State House in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.](https://www.gulf-times.com/uploads/imported_images/Upload/Slider/22018151046893357291.jpg)
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila meets Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Angola’s President Joao Lourenco at the State House in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.