Kenya Seeks Quick Resolution with Tanzania After Surprise Flight Ban Announcement

Tanzania has announced the withdrawal of approval for Kenya’s national carrier to operate passenger services between the two countries, starting the following week. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, acting on behalf of flight authorities, mentioned the denial of approvals by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for Air Tanzania to operate all-cargo flights between the nations as the reason for the decision.

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia W Mudavadi stated, “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.”

This development is the latest in a series of trade disputes within the East African Community regional economic bloc. Previously, Kenya blocked the importation of milk from Uganda and farm produce from Tanzania.

In response, Tanzania restricted the importation of onions to Kenya, resulting in a significant increase in onion prices in the country.

Additionally, landlocked Uganda is taking legal action against Kenya at the East African Court of Justice for denying the government-owned oil marketer Uganda National Oil Co. a license to operate and handle fuel imports at Kenya’s Mombasa port destined for Kampala.