Kenya-Tanzania beef has escalated once again after Tanzania released a statement on Monday announcing the suspension of flights from Kenya.
In a statement on Monday, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Director General Hamza Johari said that the flights have been banned under Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from January 22, 2024.
Johari said the decision was reached at after Kenya aeronautical authorities refused Tanzania’s request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited.
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“Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania, has decided to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam under Third and Forth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from 22 January 2024.”
The statement directed that there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from January 22, 2024 until the issue is resolved between the two countries.
“This is to reciprocate the decision by the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya to refuse the Tanzanian request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Third countries, contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, between Tanzania and Kenya signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya.”
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This adds to the recent tension between Kenya and her neighbours that has seen various counter actions by other East African countries in a bid to settle scores.
Some of the actions and reactions between kenya and her neighbours include:
Sudan recalled her Nairobi Ambassador back to Khatoum due to the President meeting a rebel leader from the country. Rwanda still fuming after Kenya’s Transport CS called them an autocracy. DRC kicked Kenya’s Ambassador and recalled their ambassador to kenya and Uganda took Kenya to EACJ due to fuel issues with Kenya. Tanzania is the latest feud that has seen thr ban of flights.