Kabila aide dies, minister hurt in DRC plane crash

Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:47pm GMT

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By Jonny Hogg

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila's chief adviser was killed and his finance minister injured in an airplane crash near the eastern town of Bukavu Sunday, government officials said.

The accident, the latest in a country with one of the world's worst air safety records, comes as Kabila braces for negotiations to form a new coalition government after his disputed victory in a chaotic election in November.

Adviser Augustin Katumba Mwanke, 58, was regarded by many as "the power behind the throne," according to a leaked 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable. He was a former governor of the copper-rich province of Katanga and retained major influence in the country's minerals sector.

Summing up Katumba's power, one Congolese senator said on condition of anonymity: "If you wanted to negotiate business and Kabila said 'yes', that was 50 percent, but if Katumba said 'yes', that was 100 percent."

Government spokesman Lambert Mende confirmed Katumba's death, saying: "It's a very big loss, he was considered a pillar of the presidential majority."

Four others died in the crash - both American pilots and two people who were hit by the wreckage - Deputy Prime Minister Adolphe Lumanu told reporters.

Lumanu said Finance Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon, roving ambassador Antoine Ghonda and South Kivu governor Marcellin Chisambo Rohuya were also hurt, although their injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

Government spokesman Lambert earlier said the finance minister and Ghonda had been "heavily wounded" in the crash. Continued...

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