Kinshasa - An airplane crash on Sunday in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed a presidential adviser and injured the Central African country's finance minister.
Finance Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon was seriously injured in the accident, which occured near Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu.
The government has not released the total number of casualties, although its statement indicated that the accident may have involved several central and local government officials.
A provincial official, who declined to be named, said the aircraft, owned by former lawmaker Katumba Mwake, crashed at the airport of Kavumu. Mwake and South Kivu Governor Marcelin Cishambo were also on board.
Presidential adviser Augustin Katumba Mwanke and one of the co-pilots were killed, the official said, adding Governor Cishambo was taken to hospital after the crash, in which most of the dozen or so passengers survived.
There was a similar accident in January, when an Antonov 28 aircraft, with five persons on board, crashed in the forest in the eastern province of Maniema.
Three people died and two others survived in the crash.
The DRC is known for poorly maintained airports and lack of proper technical control mechanisms and a system to verify professional licences.
Congolese airlines are blacklisted by the European Union for safety and management.
