East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 09 April 2024; 423

Kenya Airways plane taking off from the JKIA, Nairobi, in September 2019. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

According to recent media reports, “the government says it will not yield to pressure to liberalise Kenyan skies and to give foreign carriers easy access to different airports within the country.”

This decision has elicited mixed reactions. There are those who approve of this; who appreciate that Kenya’s airspace is a valuable resource that must be used for the benefit of citizens.

Then there are others who have received this decision with consternation, who argue that open skies would ramp up the number of visitors to the country. They aver that competition is good and that protectionism is needless.

No doubt, the liberalisation of airspace and the facilitation of competition is good. But only when there is a level playing field. The question that arises then is whether Kenyan carriers operate on a level playing field. The answer is that they do not. The odds are stacked against local airlines and tilt heavily in favour of foreign carriers in the following ways.

First, local carriers are subscale. They have fewer planes relative to many foreign carriers. This makes the unit cost of operating them higher than bigger airlines. They do not benefit from the same economies of scale. The Covid-19 pandemic taught the world that having a national carrier is a national security matter. Local airlines must therefore be allowed to grow organically to the point where they can match their international counterparts.

Second, the cost of operating an airline in Africa is higher than in Europe, America or the Middle East by more than 40 per cent on account of higher fuel costs and intra-Africa taxes. For instance, the passenger charge for a traveller within Europe is a mere 6 US dollars whereas it is 110 US dollars within Africa.

The Single African Air Travel Market is an initiative that seeks to remove all restrictions within the African continent for African carriers to thrive. Kenya is a signatory to this initiative. Once other countries on the continent come on board, African carriers will then compete effectively against their foreign counterparts.

Third, a lot of foreign competitors are backed by their governments. This is both at the policy level and through subsidies. For example, the US has a “fly American” policy that precludes flying on a foreign carrier using funds from taxpayers. Policies are also used to protect airlines from competition. Delta, an American carrier, does not fly to Dubai because it cannot compete with Emirates on a policy and subsidy level.

Because aviation is a very expensive business with thin margins, most countries with successful airlines tend to subsidise them heavily. In the last four years, Emirates has received more than USD 4 billion from the UAE government in subsidies. Singapore Airlines received USD 19 billion for post-pandemic recovery whereas American carriers got USD 56 billion from the US government towards the same. Carriers in Kenya have to make do with commercial arrangements and some limited support from the government.

These are the questions proponents of open skies should ask: Would Kenya receive more tourists because of open skies or because of tourist attractions? Would not tourist numbers be ramped up by marketing Kenya as more than just a beach and safari destination? Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst, The Standard

Details: East Africa; 08 April 2024; 501

By DPPS

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has commended Kenya on its contribution to the reconstruction of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide.

President Kagame pointed out that Kenya hosted many fleeing Rwandese during that tragic period.

Nairobi was among countries, President Kagame told Heads of State and Governments, Envoys and Heads of Delegation in Kigali Sunday, that helped in the rebirth of the peaceful modern-day Rwanda.

He spoke at BK Arena in Kigali during the 30th National commemoration of the Genocide that claimed one million lives.

Kenya, among other countries, “hosted large members and numbers of Rwandan refugees and gave them a home,” the Rwandan President noted.

Kenya was represented at the commemoration by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who stood in for President William Ruto.

“Today we also feel a particular gratitude to all the friends and representatives here with us from around the world. We are deeply honoured by your presence alongside us on this very heavy day.

The contributions you have made to Rwanda’s rebirth are enormous and have helped us to stand where we are now. I want to recognise the few while also asking for forgiveness for not being able to mention all who deserve it,” he said.

Deputy President Gachagua joined thousands of Rwandans led by their President, 19 Heads of State and Government, Former Heads of State, world leaders and heads of international delegations at the event dubbed Kwibuka30 National Remembrance Ceremony.

The theme of the commemoration is “Remember, unite, renew.”

Mr Gachagua laid a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in honour of the 1994 Genocide victims.

The memorial centre is one of the final resting place of victims of the Genocide that claimed more than one million lives of men, women and children in a period of three months.

Today, Sunday, marked the start of the 100-day commemoration period.

The Deputy President led a delegation that included the Deputy Majority Leader in the National Assembly Owen Baya (MP Kilifi North) and MPs Edward Muriu (Gatanga), John Kaguchia (Mukurwe-ini), Veronicah Maina (Nominated Senator), Patrick Munene (Chuka Igamba-Ng’ombe), Julius Rutto (Kesses), Parashina Samuel (Kajiado South), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Agnes Pareiyo (Narok North) and former Starehe MP Charles Njagua together with university student leaders Justise Jabali (president of Murang’a University of Technology) and Francis Ngugi Mwaura (student leader at Pwani University).

Some of the world leaders at the event included former US President Bill Clinton, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Sudan’s President Salva Kirr as well as Tanzania’s Samia Sulubu and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, among others.

Details: East Africa; 06 April 2024; 519

A Political Parties Forum held in Juba on Thursday endorsed the draft code of conduct for political parties ahead of general elections in December this year.

The code of conduct that was validated during the meeting is expected to guide political parties before and during general elections.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the meeting, Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Movement Party (NDM), said the discussion “led to a major consensus among the parties.” He added that the consensus reached on the document proves that South Sudanese parties can solve their own problems.

“We were discussing how we deal with our issues when trying to compete as political parties. So it is mostly about elections, and I am happy to announce that we have reached a consensus,” said Dr Akol.

“The parties are ready to sign, only that are still small editorial things. This is a voluntary code of conduct for the parties to adopt. I think this is a big step forward, a good development for the country, and a good development for the exercise of democracy that we are hoping to build and consolidate,” he added.

Dr. Akol expressed hope that the agreement on the code of conduct for political parties will influence the dialogue between the political parties in the country regarding the upcoming elections.

For his part, James Akol Zakayo, Chairman of the Political Parties Council (PPC), explained that the code of conduct for political parties is intended only for political parties that have requested registration with the council.

He said the workshop was to validate the code of conduct for political parties. “The Council and the participants agreed that the code of conduct would be voluntary and signed by the Political Parties Council,” he said.

“The document in its entirety is okay. The political parties have accepted it, and it is a voluntary code of conduct that we need to adopt as a council into our regulation so that it can be legal,” he added.

The event was organized by the Political Parties Council (PPC) with support from the UN Mission (UNMISS). Representatives of the SPLM, SPLM-IO, South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

The Political Parties Council is mandated to register, monitor, regulate, and de-register political parties. The other functions of the Council are to issue registration certificates to political parties, indicate in the register that changes have occurred within a political party, maintain records of registered political parties, and administer the Political Parties Fund.

South Sudan has never held elections, as government officials have postponed them multiple times. Elections are scheduled for December 2024 to end the transitional period, but peace monitors and the international community say the transitional government hasn’t built up the structure necessary to hold free and fair elections this year. By Koch Madut, Tower Post

Details: East Africa; 08 April 2024; 452

The national government has been asked to find a lasting solution to the ongoing doctors strike in the country.

Siaya Governor James Orengo indicated that the strike has been recurring and it is now time that the government fully addresses it.

Orengo pointed over the years, he has appeared in court to defend doctors’ union officials but the problem has refused to go away.

“The national government has failed to resolve the long standing dispute involving the doctors’ union,” he said.

He says that four years ago he appeared for former Kenya Medical, Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials who were arrested while agitating for similar demands now.

Speaking in Nyakach Sub County on Sunday during a funds drive at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Orengo says the government has failed its citizens in matters of health.

“This government was formed on the basis of mama mbogas, who cannot now access medical health services due to the ongoing strike,” he said.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, who hosted Orengo says despite health being devolved, the ongoing strike is a creation of the national government.

“County governments has nothing to do with the ongoing strike, let the national government come out to put this strike to a stop,” he said.

The two leaders spoke only hours after President William Ruto emphasized the need for doctors to understand the government’s fiscal constraints, stressing the importance of living within means when it comes to salaries and allowances.

The president’s call slams any hope that demands by the doctors in regard to salary rise will not be effected. By Ojwang Joe, Capital News

Details: East Africa; 06 April 2024; 547

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani inspects a project in Baghdad. (X)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is preparing for a busy month when he will meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington in mid-April before receiving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baghdad on April 22.

The meetings will be held days after Iraq marks the 21st anniversary of the US invasion, which took place on April 9, 2003.

Sudani is visiting the US at the invitation of the White House amid a highly volatile and complex regional scene with the war on Gaza and the Iraqi government’s efforts to rein in armed factions that have launched attacks against American forces deployed in the country.

Baghdad is hoping to develop relations with Washington during Sudani’s trip. A prominent Iraqi official said the PM is expected to discuss the phase that follows the withdrawal of the forces of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition from Iraq.

New understandings

Sudani needs to reach new understandings with the US over the international forces and agree on a “security partnership”. The pro-Iran Coordination Framework is hoping for “flexibility” from Washington over sanctions it has imposed on banks and Iraqi figures.

Sudani and Biden are also expected to discuss oil exports from the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and legal and political disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.

However, the greatest challenge facing Sudani is the new political opposition emerging against him from Shiite allies within the ruling Coordination Framework.

An agreement among the coalition had allowed Sudani to be appointed PM.

Influential leaders in the alliance are now trying to impose conditions on the premier to prevent him from running in next year’s parliamentary elections.

Political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Framework is worried that Sudani would seek to make gains in his favor during his trip to Washington and not address the sanctions against the coalition.

The sources were present at a meeting Sudani held last week with academics and policymakers. They said the PM stated that the early elections would not pose a threat to his government.

Sudani appeared confident because he was focusing on his government program, which focuses on services and developing Iraq’s regional and international relations, they added.

Biden and Erdogan

Soon after his return from the US, Sudani will welcome Erdogan for talks, which an official from the PM’s office described as “significant and historic” for Iraq and Türkiye.

Erdogan will be visiting on the heels of municipal elections where the opposition defeated him in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. Biden is also in a precarious position ahead of this year’s presidential elections.

Sudani seems the only official sitting comfortably in his position, which he may use in his favor during his summits with Biden and Erdogan, said Iraqi observers.

They noted that Biden doesn’t have many conditions to propose to Sudani, who is seeking to make gains in the strategic agreement framework signed between Baghdad and Washington in 2008 in order to ease the current tensions between the armed factions and US forces.

For his part, Erdogan is keen on compensating for his elections defeat by making foreign gains. He is eyeing the Development Road initiative launched by Sudani that could help revive Türkiye's economy.

Should the two officials reach an agreement on the initiative, then perhaps they could make progress in resolving disputes between Baghdad and Ankara over the chronic water file and Kurdistan Workers’ Party. By Hamza Mustafa, Arab World