
Kenya Airways to Resume Direct Flights to Luanda in March
Kenya Airways is set to resume direct flights to Luanda, Angola, in March this year following an agreement between the governments of Kenya and Angola. This development was announced after a high-level meeting between President William Ruto of Kenya and President João Lourenço of Angola, held on Wednesday at the presidential palace in Luanda.

The decision will help to bolster diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations.
In addition to the flight resumption, Angola pledged to waive visa requirements for Kenyan travelers, reciprocating Kenya’s earlier gesture. This move is expected to foster closer ties between the two countries and open up opportunities for professionals.
“This move will enable our professionals like teachers to access Angola much more easily,” President Ruto noted during the discussions.
Discussions on Continental Issues
Beyond bilateral ties, the two leaders tackled critical matters affecting the African continent, including:
Peace in the Great Lakes Region: They emphasized the importance of collective efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts.
Institutional Reforms at the African Union (AU): President Ruto, tasked by African heads of state to lead AU reforms, invited President Lourenço to a retreat in Kenya later this month to deliberate on the reforms ahead of the AU Heads of State Summit in February.
Elections for the Chairperson of the AU Commission: President Ruto sought Angola’s support for former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for this position.
On the Luanda Process for Peace in Eastern DRC, both leaders acknowledged the necessity of a joint meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to ensure a collaborative approach.
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“Peace and security in our continent is of paramount importance to us all, and we are keen to have a process that incorporates all and ensures its success,” President Ruto emphasized.
Boosting Trade and Regional Cooperation
The meeting also included discussions on enhancing trade relations between Kenya and Angola, with a focus on leveraging direct flights to facilitate business exchanges.

President Ruto, who arrived in Luanda from Ghana after attending President John Mahama’s inauguration, was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi, Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku