14 African Presidents and Top Ministers Who Have Died in Plane or Helicopter Crashes
1986: Mozambique Loses Its Liberation Hero
Samora Moisés Machel – President of Mozambique
Mozambique’s first president and liberation hero, Samora Machel, died on 19 October 1986 when his Soviet Tupolev 134 aircraft crashed into a hillside at Mbuzini, just inside South Africa near the Mozambican border. Machel, who had led Mozambique to independence from Portuguese colonial rule, was returning from an international meeting when the tragedy occurred. His death marked the end of an era for the newly independent nation and remains one of Africa’s most significant political losses to aviation.
1988: Central African Diplomatic Loss
Mpinga Kasenda – Foreign Minister of Zaire
Mpinga Kasenda, Foreign Minister of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) under President Mobutu Sese Seko, died in a plane crash in 1988. A veteran diplomat, Kasenda had represented Zaire in numerous international forums and was regarded as one of the country’s most experienced foreign policy figures.
1994: The Tragedy That Sparked Genocide
Juvénal Habyarimana – President of Rwanda
Cyprien Ntaryamira – President of Burundi
Deogratias Nsabimana – Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff
On the evening of 6 April 1994, Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira were killed when their aircraft was shot down by surface-to-air missiles as it approached Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff, Deogratias Nsabimana, was also on board. The incident, which occurred as they returned from peace talks in Tanzania, became the immediate trigger for the Rwandan genocide, one of the most devastating events in African history.
2006: Kenya’s First Major Aviation Loss
Bonaya Adhi Godana – Former Foreign Minister
Bonaya Godana, former Foreign Minister and deputy leader of the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU) party, died on 10 April 2006 in a Kenya Air Force plane crash near Marsabit. Thirteen (13) people perished in the crash, including several government officials and two assistant cabinet ministers. At the time, Godana was serving as MP for North Horr Constituency.
2007: West Africa’s Sports Minister Tragedy
Richard Attipoé – Togo’s Minister of Youth and Sports
Richard Attipoé died on 3 June 2007 in a helicopter crash at Lungi Airport, Sierra Leone. The 50-year-old minister was returning from supporting the Togo national football team in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone. All twenty-two (22) passengers were killed, including thirteen (13) Togolese nationals.
2008: Kenya’s Double Loss
Kipkalya Kones – Roads Minister
Lorna Laboso – Assistant Home Affairs Minister
Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones and Assistant Minister Lorna Laboso died when their aircraft crashed in Narok, southwestern Kenya, after encountering poor weather. Laboso, aged 32, was one of the youngest ministers in government at the time.
Professor George Saitoti – Internal Security Minister
Joshua Orwa Ojode – Assistant Minister for Internal Security
Former Vice-President and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, alongside Assistant Minister Joshua Orwa Ojode, died when their police helicopter crashed in Ngong Forest near Nairobi. Four (4) others, including pilots and bodyguards, were also killed.
2024: Malawi’s Vice Presidential Loss
Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima – Vice President of Malawi
2025: Ghana’s Recent Double Tragedy
Dr Edward Omane Boamah – Ghana’s Defence Minister
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Ghana’s Environment Minister
In one of the most recent aviation tragedies, Ghana lost two senior ministers when their helicopter crashed in the Ashanti Region, killing eight (8) people in total.
