The Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga is in the United States of America to sign an airspace agreement, which will involve Kenyan airlines being granted category “A” status by US aviation authorities. This will allow Kenyan planes to land in the United States and vice versa. The move is expected to boost Kenya’s tourism industry and also create an easier access for Africa to the US unlike on previous occasions when one could only do connection flights.

Sudan Peace in Lingo

Peace in the Eastern Africa country of Sudan is in lingo given the current state of affairs where the UN Security Council is pressing the Sudanese government to cooperate in ending impunity and war crimes in Darfur. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has since vouched for ensuring that those responsible for crimes committed in the war-wracked region are held to account. An estimated 300,000 people have died, either through direct combat or disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy since the fighting began in 2003 while 2.7 million people have been displaced. In a positive move, the Southern Sudan Cabinet has approved a key agreement signed between the National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to end the impasse in the region.

Zimbabwe Runoff is Here

The runoff elections in Zimbabwe will be held on June 27^th this year. This comes after a general election in March could not draw the outright winner although opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had a majority over Mugabe. According to the constitution in Zimbabwe, a presidential winner must gunner at least 50% of the total vote, which both Mugabe and Tsvangirai did not raise. The runoff will be a test of Africa’s response to democracy and transparency in elections.

Business Leaders Meeting in Uganda

Over 150 chief executives have confirmed their participation in next month’s business leaders meeting in Uganda. The meeting seeks to come up with ways of increasing East Africa’s competitiveness in the global market. The Summit, which will be the fourth edition, marks its revival after a three-year hiatus. Citi Bank, Deloitte, KPMG, Nation Media Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Serena Hotels are the organizers.

Gore Endorses Obama

Environmental campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore has endorsed Barack Obama’s bid to become the next US President. Mr Gore, who served as Vice-President under Bill Clinton, is one of the Democratic Party’s most-respected figures. He hadn't expressed any preference between Obama and Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary campaign. However, now that Obama has secured the nomination, he says he will do whatever he can to get the Illinois Senator elected president.