KIGALI AIRPORT DRAMA: GABONESE MP ARRESTED AFTER RWAIR SUPERVISOR ALTERCATION
A dramatic incident at Kigali International Airport has left a Gabonese Member of Parliament in the spotlight after he allegedly assaulted a RwandAir supervisor during a layover.
Augustin Lobelle Yembi, a Gabonese lawmaker elected in 2025, was reportedly arrested by Rwandan authorities on September 3, 2026, following an altercation with the airline official while he was in transit.
According to reports circulating online, Yembi became frustrated after spending a lengthy period at the airport without receiving clear information about his connecting flight. The confrontation reportedly escalated, with some accounts alleging that the MP slapped the RwandAir supervisor.
Rwandan authorities subsequently detained Yembi over allegations of violence, with the case initially expected to proceed through the Rwandan courts.
However, the matter soon took a diplomatic turn.
Following direct talks between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Rwanda reportedly released Yembi around September 6–7 and handed him over to Gabonese authorities.
Gabon has since indicated that the lawmaker is back under its jurisdiction and will face legal proceedings at home over the incident.
The case has also raised questions over parliamentary immunity, with attention now shifting to how Gabonese authorities will handle the allegations against the MP.