The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has barred Kenya Airways (KQ) from operating passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with effect from January 22, 2024.
In a statement, TCAA noted that that the decision to bar KQ flights was to reciprocate the move by authorities in Kenya to deny Air Tanzania the permission to operate cargo flights between Nairobi and Third countries.
According to the Tanzanian authority, the decision by Kenya was contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, between Tanzania and Kenya signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Consequently, KQ will not be allowed to operate passenger flights to Dar es Salaam beginning January 22, 2024.
“Following this Decision, there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from 22 January 2024,” the statement read in part.
“The United Republic of Tanzania shall always strive to adhere to the principles of Chicago Convention 1944 and Bilateral Air Services Agreement between States.”
The announcement came amid a simmering diplomatic row between East African Community (EAC) member states.
Earlier in January, Uganda sued the government of Kenya over the now protracted disagreement regarding oil importation for the landlocked country.
Tanzania ban adds to Kenya’s diplomatic crises
In the case filed at the East Africa Court of Justice, Uganda argued that Kenya had denied it the right to import oil through the Mombasa port, against international conventions.
Uganda’s government also wanted the court’s intervention to help it cut off Kenyan Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) from importing fuel on behalf of Uganda.
Also Read: Uganda Sues Kenya at East African Court Over Fuel Deal
The case was a culmination of a cold war pitting the two Uganda and Kenya, with Kenya maintaining its hard stance of restricting oil importation through the government-to-government deal despite protests.
But the diplomatic row has been manifested in other countries within the EAC as well.
In a shocking move, Burundi announced the closure of its boundaries with Rwanda in a renewed rivalry between Bujumbura and Kigali with Burundi accusing the neighbors of colluding with rebels.
Also Read: Kenya Airways Plane to Kigali, Rwanda Forced Back to JKIA
Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo had also been embroiled in a diplomatic spat after a decision by Kinshasa to recall its ambassador to Nairobi.
The decision in December, 2023, came after a group of rebel leaders were alleged to have held a press conference at a Nairobi hotel in the run up to the country’s general election.
