On June 3, 2025, the European Commission confirmed that all airlines certified by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain on its aviation safety blacklist, barring them from operating in European Union airspace and excluding them from the European market. 

Despite progress made by the DRC since 2023, including a rise in compliance with international aviation safety standards from 11% in 2006 to 64.07% in 2023, the country has yet to meet all requirements to be removed from the list.

Following a 2023 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which noted significant improvements, the DRC government has taken steps to address safety concerns. These include adopting a new civil aviation law in late 2023 that mandates airport certification and adherence to international protocols, and signing a ten-year partnership in May 2024 between the Régie des voies aériennes (RVA) and British firm Westminster Group PLC to enhance security at five major airports—Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Kisangani, and Mbuji-Mayi—through expert deployment, staff training, and equipment modernization.

Despite surpassing the ICAO’s 60% compliance threshold, the European Commission’s decision to maintain the ban cites ongoing safety concerns and inadequate oversight by the DRC’s aviation authorities. The Commission has informed the affected airlines of the reasons behind the continued restrictions, but has not publicly detailed the specific issues.

Ronsard Luabeya (intern)