A Kenyan truck driver is among 12 transport workers reportedly killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), prompting long-distance drivers to suspend operations along the Mahagi–Kisangani route in protest over growing insecurity.
The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) confirmed that the strike began on Tuesday, October 20, with truck movement along the affected corridor coming to a standstill as drivers demanded urgent action to protect their lives.
The association identified the Kenyan victim as Mohamed Tahlil, saying the reported killings had heightened fears among drivers transporting cargo through the conflict-affected country. The circumstances surrounding the deaths had not been independently established by the time of publication.
The association warned that continuing to send trucks into the area while drivers had halted operations could leave cargo stranded and expose transport workers to pressure to continue journeys despite the security risks.
The strike follows repeated reports of attacks and killings involving long-distance truck drivers operating in parts of the DRC. The Mahagi–Kisangani corridor passes through areas where insecurity has raised concerns among transporters and their crews.
LoDDCA is calling for urgent engagement involving drivers, their representatives, the Congolese government, security agencies, transport regulators and regional trade bodies to address the situation.
Among its demands are stronger security along the affected routes, improved coordination between security agencies across borders and faster sharing of information to help drivers assess risks before setting off.
The association has also called for investigations into the reported killings and measures to protect drivers and other transport workers operating in the country.
It maintains that cargo movement should not resume until credible safety measures are in place and the concerns raised by drivers have been addressed.
The suspension threatens to disrupt the movement of goods between Kenya and the DRC, where Kenyan transporters play a role in regional cross-border trade. A prolonged halt could delay deliveries and leave cargo waiting as companies assess the security situation.
The association has urged industry players to respect the strike and avoid dispatching more cargo into the affected corridor until there are clear assurances that transport workers can operate safely.
