Diplomatic de-escalation: Tanzania and Kenya agree to resolve flight ban within 3 days
Tanzania's foreign minister January Makamba and his Kenyan counterpart Musalia Mudavadi
Dar es Salaam/Nairobi. Following a sudden ban on Kenya Airways flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, a diplomatic flurry on Monday evening saw the foreign ministers of Kenya and Tanzania pledge to resolve the issue within 72 hours.
The unexpected move had sparked fears of a wider rift between the East African neighbours, but a joint statement from both ministers offered a much-needed dose of reassurance.
In separate posts on social media, Tanzania's January Makamba and Kenya's Musalia Mudavadi emphasized their commitment to "working together to have the matter resolved amicably."
Both ministers stressed the importance of existing agreements between the two countries, and agreed that the recent restrictions on air travel were "unacceptable."
"There should be no cause for alarm," declared Mr Makamba, echoing similar sentiments from his Kenyan counterpart. Mudavadi affirmed, "We agree that restrictions of air travel between our countries and from any of our country to a third country shouldn't stand."
The abrupt ban on Kenya Airways flights had thrown travel plans into disarray, leaving passengers with cancelled journeys and uncertain schedules. The ministers' joint statement, however, provides a glimmer of hope for a speedy resolution.
"We have resolved to settle this issue, per existing agreements, within 3 days," Mudavadi stated, outlining a concrete timeframe for resolving the dispute.
The swift action offered a welcome contrast to the initial confusion and uncertainty.
While the specific details of the issue and the path to resolution remain unclear, the ministers' commitment to open communication and a swift resolution offers a positive outlook for the future of air travel between the two nations.
