IN a late-night address on Monday, Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, appealed for a speedy resolution to an escalating diplomatic dispute triggered by a flight ban imposed by Tanzania on Kenya Airways. The ban, announced on Monday, suspended passenger flights connecting Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, sparking concerns among citizens about growing tensions between the neighbouring East African nations.
Mudavadi reassured the public, stating, ‘We have jointly agreed that our respective civil aviation authorities will work together to have the matter resolved amicably within the next three days. There should therefore be no cause for alarm.’ The resolution came after discussions between Mudavadi and his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba.
Makamba, in a separate statement, emphasised the commitment to resolving the issue within the stipulated timeframe, stating, ‘We’ve [together with the Kenyan foreign minister] resolved to settle this issue, per existing agreements, within three days.’
The ban, which took effect suddenly, stemmed from a disagreement over cargo flight operations between the two nations. Tanzania had sought approval for all cargo flights by Air Tanzania to Nairobi. However, Kenyan authorities rejected the request, citing technical and logistical concerns.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) confirmed the reciprocal ban in response to the denied approval, creating uncertainty for frequent passengers and cargo companies about the continuity of their future travels and operations.
Experts highlight the far-reaching consequences of the Kenya-Tanzania flight ban, extending beyond immediate disruptions to air travel. The most directly impacted include passengers and airlines, but the ripple effects extend to tourism, businesses, regional trade, and even diplomatic relations in the East African region. The resolution within the next three days will be crucial in mitigating these broader implications.