LAGOS  – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that African carriers suffered cumulative losses of $3.5 billion for 2020-2022.

The association also estimated further losses of $213 million in 2023 alone.

These were contained in a statement by IATA to journalists on Monday.

However, in a bid to strengthen aviation’s contribution to Africa’s economic, social development and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers, IATA said it was launching ‘Focus Africa.’

According to IATA, this initiative would align private and public stakeholders to deliver measurable progress in six areas.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, in the statement said that Africa accounted for 18 per cent of the global population, but just 2.1 per cent of air transport activities, which include cargo and passenger.

He explained that it was necessary to close the gap so that Africa could benefit from the connectivity, jobs and growth that aviation enables, stressing that was what “Focus Africa is all about.” 

Infrastructure constraints, high costs, lack of connectivity, regulatory impediments, slow adoption of global standards and skills shortages affect the customer experience and are all contributory factors to African airlines’ viability and sustainability, IATA said. 

IATA noted that sustainably connecting the African continent internally and to global markets with air transport was critical for bringing people together and creating economic and social development opportunities.

It maintained that this would also support the realisation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) for Africa of lifting 50 million people out of poverty by 2030.

In particular, trade and tourism rely on aviation and have immense unrealised potential to create jobs, alleviate poverty, and generate prosperity across the continent. By Olusegun Koiki, Independent

KIGALI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and Kenya Tuesday signed about 10 agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in several areas, including education, ICT, health, gender and child development, youth and capacity development for the public service as well as correctional services.

Addressing a joint press conference in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto said the two countries had agreed to work together for the benefit of the people.

"Over the years Rwanda and Kenya have built strong relations. These new areas of cooperation will bring us even closer together," said Kagame.

He expressed hope that the two countries can leverage shared interest to equip youth with the skills and knowledge to innovate and compete.

Ruto said the memoranda and documents signed in the different sectors "will consolidate the relations between the two countries and present new momentum and create new impetus for the growing of our relations."

The presidents also said the two countries seek to expand trade and investment as well as help the region in terms of fostering peace and security.

Kenya is committed to working with Rwanda in advancing peace and security, trade and investment and the implementation of the continent's Agenda 2063, added Ruto.

The two leaders, meanwhile, agreed that the instability in South Sudan, Ethiopia and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo requires collaboration to address.

The signing ceremony of the cooperation agreements was preceded by a three-day meeting of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation between Rwanda and Kenya in Kigali which discussed the areas of mutual interests to strengthen bilateral cooperation. - Xinhua

Tuesday, April 4, 2023: The Ethiopian Joint Security Intelligence Task Force announced that it has detained leaders of a covert terror group that was planning to target senior government officials in several cities across the country.

The group intended to target government officials in Addis Abeba, Bahirdar, Adama, and Dire Dawa, according to the state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporate, in order to incite a nationwide conflict and capture state power.

The group which includes individuals with backgrounds in academia, media owners, and activists has been attempting to mobilize support in the Amhara region by claiming that they are facing oppression, the state media reported.

Those detained include Professor Maeregu Biyabeyn, Assistant Professor Sisay Awgachew, Dr. Wendesen Assefa, Dr. Meseret, Worku Tesfaye W. Maryam, Tesfaye Yehualashet Fasil, Solomon Lemeneh Ketema, and Menbere.

According to the report by the state media, the group has been organizing in all parts of the Amhara region as well as among Amharas living in other regions to achieve this goal.

The joint task force stated that the coordinated capture of other suspects on the run is still ongoing and that it will continue to provide the public with up-to-date information about the case. Curate Oromia