Photo : Monicah Mwangi, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Monicah Mwangi, Reuters
IN BRIEF
Narmatha S and Vetriselvi Baskaran
Kenya: Government exempts entry fee for some foreign countries
On 22 February, the government of Kenya exempted the entry fee of $30 (£23) for South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, and Mozambique national passport holders but still have to get electronic authorization to visit Kenya. It also scrapped visa requirements for all foreigners visiting Kenya last month. This initiative is seen as an attempt to promote Kenya as a tourist destination and to attract business travellers. Critics say that it could lead to issues with countries that have visa-waiver agreements and with payment for entry, making travel more costly and bureaucratic for them. (“Kenya scraps entry fee for South Africans and several other foreign nationals,” BBC, 22 February 2024)
Libya: Deal calls for the withdrawal of militias out of Tripoli succeeds
On 22 February, BBC reported that armed gangs who have controlled Tripoli for over a decade have agreed to leave the capital. Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi announced that after extensive discussions, a deal had been reached for regular forces to police Tripoli. The agreement comes after many deadly conflicts in the city in recent months. It calls for at least five armed groups to leave Tripoli before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on 9 April, including one based in an area where ten people were killed over the weekend. Libya has been hammered by numerous armed factions that formed following Muammar Gaddafi's ouster in 2011. (“Libya government says militias to leave Tripoli after deal struck Published 6 days ago,” BBC, 22 February 2024)