Saturday, March 24, 2012

Plane fails to fly Wetangula out of Mali

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula

The Government had secured clearance to fly to Bamako, Mali, to evacuate Wetangula, Government officials, and other Kenyans stuck there.

The plane charted from an airline company in Nigeria failed to fly out after the crew said they had been informed by the control tower in Mali that the airspace was not safe.

Foreign Affairs ministry, however, said despite this setback the Government was trying to get an alternative airline willing to fly to Mali following the military clearance.

Nairobi, through Kenya Ambassador Francis Sigei in Abuja, Nigeria, said it is trying all alternatives to charter an airline, which would be willing to fly into Bamako airspace following this clearance.

The ministry said they were also working with Kenya Airways, the African Union, and other friendly countries on this.

In an update to the Press, the ministry also said the Government had established and compiled a list of 27 Kenyans in Mali.

“One of them was evacuated last night,” the statement said and requested relatives to give details of any Kenyan in Mali to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs though its communications section at +25402318888 or email to communications@mfa.go.ke or communication.foreign@yahoo.com.

The Government assured Kenyans that Wetangula, other Government officials with him and other Kenyans are safe in Mali.

The ministry also said it is in constant and direct communication with the minister and has confirmed that he and his team are safe.

Wetangula was preparing to leave for the airport on Wednesday after attending an AU security meeting, but was stopped after news of Mali’s army uprising spread.

The Kenya Airways plane had to cancel landing in Bamako after a military coup.

Wetangula has been holed up in a hotel in the capital as officials attempt to find a way of getting him out of the volatile city.

Speaking to The Standard On Sunday on telephone, Wetangula said he could hear gunshots from his hotel room but he was safe.

“I am safe but asking Kenyans to pray for our safety,” he said.

The minister said some ministers from other countries and officials from the AU were also stranded in Mali.

Wetangula said he had attended the AU Peace and Security Committee meeting in Bamako, with other ministers to resolve the crisis caused by Tuareg armed rebellion.

By ATHMAN AMRAN, The Standard

Source:   http://spyghana.com

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