By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
Senegal has taken another
step towards restoring direct air services between Dakar and Cairo, following a
meeting between the Director General of the National Agency for Civil Aviation
and Meteorology (ANACIM), Dr. Diaga Basse, and the Ambassador of Egypt to
Senegal, Mohamed Safwat Ramadan Atta, accompanied by officials of Air Cairo.
The meeting, held on Monday,
November 9, marks a new stage in efforts to resume the air link between the two
capitals, with the project moving into its technical and regulatory phase under
the responsibility of ANACIM, Senegal’s civil aviation authority.
The discussions follow
high-level engagements in early October, when President of Senegal Bassirou
Diomaye Faye received Air Cairo Chief Executive Officer Hussein Sherif Fahmi on
the sidelines of the Alamein-Africa Business Forum to discuss the return of a
route connecting Dakar and Cairo.
Following the political
discussions, Monday’s meeting provided an opportunity to advance the technical
and regulatory processes required to bring the proposed service into operation.
The Egyptian Ambassador said
reopening the route would strengthen the excellent relations between Dakar and
Cairo while offering Egypt a gateway to West Africa.
For his part, Dr. Basse,
accompanied by his collaborators, assured Air Cairo of ANACIM’s support in
bringing the project to fruition, for the benefit of passengers and all users
of the route.
