East African Community Relations are off to a really interesting start in 2024

In a tit-for-tat move, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has suspended all Kenya Airways (KQ) passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with effect from January 22, 2024, Kenya Airways operates 33 scheduled flights per week between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam..

This is in response to Kenya’s recent rejection of Tanzania’s request to allow its airline, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), to operate cargo flights between Nairobi and third countries, The TCAA cited the Kenyan authorities’ refusal as a violation of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services signed between the two countries in 2016. This section provides for reciprocal treatment of airlines from both countries.

-Burundi closed its borders with Rwanda.

-Ethiopia opened 2024 by setting off a political tsunami, signing a memorandum of understanding to secure its access to the Red Sea with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which is not internationally recognized.

-Uganda has taken Kenya to the East Africa Court of Justice over transportation of petroleum products.

-Kinshasa-Kigali tensions