Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to end the stand-off that was affecting the countries’ long-standing bilateral relationship. This comes after talks between Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. The two heads of state agreed that Tanzanian tourist vehicles should be granted unrestricted access to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, with effect from 16h00 on Sunday.

Last week, the row between Kenya and Tanzania saw the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority directing Kenya Airways to reduce the frequency of its flights to Tanzania from 42 times a week to 14 times a week with immediate effect.

Kenya Airways has welcomed the resolution of the conflict. “Kenya Airways would like to express gratitude to the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania for resolving the Bilateral Air Services Agreements in a timely manner. The developments will see the airline resume full operations to Dar es Salaam following the announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the airline said in a press release.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador, Amina Mohammed, said during a press briefing: “This means that with immediate effect Tanzania-registered vehicles will access the Jomo Kenyatta Internal Airport as before and Kenya Airways will continue with its normal operations.”

The Tanzania Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, was quoted in the Tanzanian Citizen as saying that the meeting in Namibia was very cordial, with the two heads of state emphasising the need to continue discussing openly issues affecting the brotherly and long-standing bilateral relationship that exists between Tanzania and Kenya.