The Somalia conflict – Al Shabab, a killer of people but also a killer of the environment

AL SHABAB, KILLERS OF PEOPLE AND KILLERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT When Kenyan troops entered Somalia in hot pursuit of Al Shabab operatives, who had staged several abductions of foreign nationals from Kenyan territory and constantly engaged in cross border raids into refugee camps or against Kenyan military and security outposts, they found moon-like landscapes, bare […]

East African Community Summit expected to turn down Khartoum’s membership application

KHARTOUM TO BE KEPT OUT OF EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY The spat earlier this week between the regime in Khartoum and the government in Nairobi, which blew up when the High Court in Nairobi issued instructions for an arrest warrant against North Sudans regime leader, wanted by the International Criminal Court, alongside several of his henchmen, […]

Uganda aviation breaking news – JET A 1 fuel runs out again at Entebbe

ENTEBBE RUNS OUT OF JET A1 FUEL, AGAIN In another stunning development has Entebbe International Airport once again run out of jet fuel, causing airlines to implement emergency planning measures to find fuel enroute to or from Uganda. Tomorrows South African Airways flight has already been scheduled to fly home to Johannesburg via Nairobi, to […]

Seychelles aviation news update – Helicopter Seychelles, back in the skies and there to stay

HELICOPTER SEYCHELLES RETURN WAS MUCH NEEDED The recent return to the skies over the Seychelles archipelago by Helicopter Seychelles has according to the companys CEO Capt. Shaun Tinkler-Rose already made a difference through medical evacuation flights at night, which the airlines Agusta helicopter is capable of performing. In a communication received through a regular source […]

Kenya tourism and conservation news – Cheli & Peacock bag 4 Eco Tourism Kenya Awards

CHELI AND PEACOCK BAG FOUR ECO TOURISM AWARDS One of Kenyas foremost safari companies, Cheli and Peacock, has last weekend taken the Eco Tourism Kenya annual awards by storm, claiming four prizes for outstanding services. Besides being named Tour Operator of the Year 2011 the company Elsas Kopje lodge was also acclaimed Best small lodge […]

Mauritius tourism news – Government intent to divest of various tourism related assets

MAURITIUS GOVERNMENT DIVESTS SOME TOURISM ASSETS It was learned over the weekend that the Mauritius government intends to divest from some tourism related interest in order to bring in cash for other purposes. Divestments will include offloading interests in casinos, the Belle Mare Tourist Village, the Lake Point Complex and the Port Louis Waterfront developments. […]

Tanzania tourism breaking news – Massive landslide cuts off key safari route

MASSIVE LANDSLIDES BLOCK KEY SAFARI ROUTE It was learned yesterday that a massive landslide cut off the main route between the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha at Mto Wa Mbu, the escarpment where the Lake Manyara National Park is located. Torrential rains, which currently lash parts of Eastern Africa, caused a major rock […]

South Sudan aviation news – Southern Star halts operations?

SOUTHERN STAR HALTS OPERATIONS Only a few weeks ago was information confirmed that South Sudans first post independence airline, Southern Star, commenced flight operations, with big fanfare and big dreams. Following two months of erratic operations though, has Southern Star already halted operations and ALS, the company in Nairobi they had leased their single aircraft […]

East African Community Summit – Problems ahead dampen hope for success

SPATS AHEAD OF EAC SUMMIT IN BUJUMBURA Old and new rifts emerged in the meetings preparing for the council of ministers and the head of state summit later this week in Bujumbura, when news emerged from there that new battle lines were being drawn up. The application by the Bashir regime in Khartoum, to join […]

Kenya tourism news – Lamu Cultural Festival ‘a total success’

LAMU FESTIVAL A SUCCESS AND FREE OF ANY SCARES OR INCIDENTS The annual Lamu Cultural Festival came to a close yesterday with every available bed booked up by locals, said to comprise over 75 percent of the hotel bookings but also by overseas tourists, who had defied the blanket anti travel advisories and flown, boated […]

Kenya conservation news – 87 more tusks found in container destined for China

VIGILANT OFFICIALS SEIZE 87 ELEPHANT TUSKS A Hong Kong bound container with 87 elephant tusks was seized over the weekend in Nairobi, when alert customs and security officials opened the container for a physical spot check, after various inconsistencies rang the alarm bells and raised suspicion of illicit contraband being hidden amongst the consignment of […]

Seychelles aviation news – Restructuring and downsizing of Air Seychelles gains momentum

AIR SEYCHELLES RESTRUCTURING GATHERS PACE A task force has been established at the head office of Air Seychelles in Mahe, having to deal with the downside of the current major restructuring, which will see the airline drop all intercontinental destinations and downsize itself to a regional airline, serving existing and very likely new destinations on […]

Ethiopia aviation news – ET gets first B737-800 Sky Interior

ETHIOPIAN NOW ALSO FLIES THE LATEST BOEING SKY INTERIOR Ethiopian Airlines earlier this week also took delivery of the first of 10 ordered B737-800 Sky Interior, of which RwandAir already fly two, having beaten the African aviation giant to the door to claim the honours of being the first African airline to do so. However, […]

Tanzania aviation news – Former ATCL chiefs in court on criminal charges

FORMER ATCL CHIEF IN COURT AS SUCCESSOR TALKS BIG The former Air Tanzania CEO has ended up in court yesterday with two erstwhile colleagues, charged with abuse of office over an alleged 1.4 billion Tanzania Shillings procurement deal of vehicles. The cause of the charges dates back to 2007, when Air Tanzania, allegedly in violation […]

Tanzania aviation news – JRO to get long overdue facelift and expansion

KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL NEXT IN LINE FOR UPGRADE TOO Information has been coming in fast and furious in recent weeks, with news chasing news of yet another major international gateway, and even secondary airports being upgraded, expanded and renovated to finally give aviation the state of the art facilities air operators have been demanding in past […]

Seychelles tourism news – STB shows flag at Nairobi’s Getaway Fair

SEYCHELLES AT NAIROBI GETAWAY FAIR The Seychelles Tourism Boards appearance at the recently concluded Getaway Fair in Nairobi was once again termed an overwhelming success, as the archipelagos stand attracted the attention of both the tourism trade, seeking to forge ties with the islands to do business together, but also of course of individuals coming […]