Kenya seeks swift resolution with Tanzania after flight ban

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called late Monday for the swift resolution of a diplomatic dispute over a flight ban by Tanzania on flag carrier Kenya Airways.

Tanzania on Monday imposed a ban that halted passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, raising concerns among citizens of the two countries about escalating tensions between the East African neighbors.

"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," said Mudavadi after discussions with his Tanzanian counterpart January Makamba.

Makamba in a separate statement noted that "we’ve (together with the Kenyan foreign minister) resolved to settle this issue, per existing agreements, within three days."

The sudden ban arose from a disagreement over cargo flight operations.

Tanzania sought approval for all cargo flights by Air Tanzania to Nairobi, but Kenyan authorities denied the request, citing technical and logistical concerns.

According to a statement by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), the denial prompted a reciprocal ban, causing concern among frequent passengers and cargo companies about the uncertainty of their future travels and operations.

Experts argue that the Kenya-Tanzania flight ban has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate disruption to air travel. While the most directly affected are passengers and airlines, the ripple effects extend to tourism, businesses, regional trade and even diplomatic relations.