Kenya signs aviation agreement with Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - The historically questionable diplomatic relationship between Kenya and Somalia could have been cured immensely in the last year, with the East African nation signing an aviation agreement, which would facilitate air transport between Nairobi and Mogadishu in the coming days.

At Transcom House in Nairobi, Kenya's Roads and Transport minister Kipchumba Murkomen, signed the monumental air transport agreement with Somalia's Transport and Civil Aviation counterpart Fardowsa Osman Egal, marking the beginning of uninterrupted business and trade with the two neighbors.

According to Murkomen, the agreement allows designated airlines of each Contracting Party to operate 7 weekly frequencies for passenger flights on specified routes as set out in the schedule of routes annexed to the ASA, while designated cargo flights may operate unlimited frequencies.

"It has also been agreed that the Civil Aviation Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the enhancement of mutual engagements in the field of civil aviation, capacity building, personnel training, and experience sharing," the minister said.

"The Agreement will be implemented administratively pending its full entry into force on the date of the last notification through diplomatic notes by one Contracting Party to the other upon fulfillment of internal legal procedures as per the Treaty Making and Ratification Act of 2012."

The aviation industry has been the most hit whenever there is a diplomatic rift between Kenya and Somalia, with the two countries also involved in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants. Sometimes back, Kenya had suspended all flights to Somalia due to maritime border disputes and subsequent disagreements in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

But in a reprisal sanctioned by Mogadishu, Somalia also banned the importation of Khat from Kenya, leading to double losses by the two countries. However, under the leadership of President William Ruto and his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, diplomatic ties have been restored between the two nations.

GAROWE ONLINE