I've been in and out of Contonou many times in a 727 while working for a Rep of the Congo (not Dem Rep of the Congo) in 2001...
Everything said in the report is true...I can't count the number of times I had to off-load "carry-ons" in the bins and/or "children with mustaches" just to make it "safe"...not "legal"...
But then that's Africa for you...Been there, done that, and got the "hand made cotton outfits"...And I'd do it again in a heartbeat...