This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Kenya Airways, the national carrier, has cancelled two flights to Sudan's capital, Khartoum, amidst the country's ongoing crisis. The decision was made after Sudan's Omar al-Bashir was ousted, leading to the shutdown of its borders and airspace.
Kenya Airways operates five weekly flights to Sudan, which has been a vital market for Kenya's tea, coffee, spices, and tobacco. The airline's flights have fuelled a thriving trade between the two countries for years.
The shutdown has left Kenyan businesses with interests in Sudan in a state of uncertainty, unsure of how long the Sudanese military will take to restore normalcy in the country's economy.
Kenya's tea industry, in particular, relies heavily on Sudan as a key market. The industry players are already restless, awaiting clarity on the situation.
Published on August 1, 2019.
