Kenya and Angola will work together to enable Kenya Airways to resume direct flights to Luanda, Angola from March this year.
This was announced after a meeting between Angolan President William Ruto and President João Lorenzo on Wednesday at the Angolan Presidential Palace in Luanda, marking an important step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
Additionally, Angola will respond to Kenya's previous stance and work towards waiving visa requirements for Kenyans visiting the country.
“This move will allow teachers and other professionals to more easily access Angola,” President Ruto said.
The two leaders also discussed related issues on the African continent, including peace in the Great Lakes region, institutional reform of the African Union, and next month's election of the African Union Commission chairman.
President Ruto, who has been tasked with championing AU reform by African leaders, invited President Lorenzo to a retreat in Kenya later this month ahead of the AU summit in February.
Regarding the Luanda peace process in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the two leaders recognized the need for a joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to strengthen this initiative.
“The peace and security of our continent is of paramount importance to all of us and we want to establish an all-inclusive process and ensure its success,” President Ruto explained. .
He requested the Angolan side to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's candidacy for the post of AU Commission Chairman.
President Ruto, who arrived in Luanda on Tuesday night from Accra, Ghana, where he attended the inauguration of President John Mahama, also discussed commercial relations between the two countries with President Lorenko.
The President was accompanied by Prime Minister Musalia Mudabadi, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Mandela Senator Ali Roba and Kinangop MP Kwenya Tuku.
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