Nairobi, Jan. 9, 2025 (Lusa) - Angola wants to exempt Kenyans from visa requirements, and the two countries will work for Kenya Airways to resume direct flights to Luanda, Kenya announced on Thursday after the presidents of the two states met in the Angolan capital.
The president of Angola, João Lourenço, received his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, at the Angolan presidential palace in Luanda on Wednesday, in a meeting in which they affirmed their intention to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
One of the measures in this direction will be the resumption by Kenya Airways of direct flights to Luanda, which should happen within two months, according to a statement from the Kenyan presidency.
Angola will work towards waiving visa requirements for Kenyans visiting the country, in return for Kenya's previous gesture, according to the same press release.
"This measure will allow our professionals, such as teachers, to access Angola much more easily," said President Ruto, quoted in the communiqué on the meeting, about which no statements were made in Luanda.
The two leaders also discussed issues on the African continent, such as peace in the Great Lakes region, institutional reforms of the African Union and the election of the chairperson of the African Union Commission next month.
According to the Kenyan presidency, William Ruto, who has been mandated by other African heads of state to defend the reforms of the African Union (AU), invited President João Lourenço to a retreat in Kenya later this month, ahead of the AU Heads of State Summit in February.
Regarding the Luanda Process for Peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, "the two leaders appreciated the need for a joint meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to consolidate the initiative".
"Peace and security on our continent are paramount to all of us, and we are keen to have a process that incorporates everyone and ensures that it will succeed," explained President Ruto.
The Kenyan head of state asked his Angolan counterpart to support the candidacy of former prime minister Raila Odinga for the post of chair of the AU Commission.
President Ruto arrived in Luanda on Tuesday evening from Accra, Ghana, where he attended the inauguration of President John Mahama. He also discussed trade relations between the two countries with President João Lourenço.
SMM/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
