DR Congo’s presidential jet returns five years after seizure in Spain over debt

The Gulfstream IV jet had been seized in Spain as a result of unpaid maintenance invoices, the presidency said.

The official Twitter handle also shared photos of the white jet which had the country’s name and flag when it arrived in the capital, Kinshasa.

“After 5 years of forced immobilization in Spain due to unpaid maintenance invoices, the Gulfstream IV presidential plane flying the Congolese flag returned to the country on Tuesday evening,” the accompanying text read.

In another post, they stated how the retrieval of the jet came about: “On the instructions of President Tshisekedi, his Chief of Staff, Guylain Nyembo, set up a working group including presidential logistics to manage this file.

“The invoices having been honored, the facility was returned to the DRC and the country’s honor is safe.”

Impounded in 2016 means that it was taken during the era of Joseph Kabila whose mandate expired in 2016 but was extended by a court till 2019 when he stepped down after over two years as ‘caretaker’ president.

#RDC#RETOUR_DE_AVION_PRESIDENTIEL 09.11.2021 / #KINSHASA
Après 5 ans d’immobilisation forcée en Espagne pour cause de factures d’entretien impayées, l’avion présidentiel Gulfstream IV battant pavillon congolais est rentré au pays ce mardi soir. pic.twitter.com/68bKWy1GwU

— Présidence RDC ???????? (@Presidence_RDC) November 10, 2021