Senegal Closes Airspace to Guinea Flights

Posted November 1st, 2011 at 6:30 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

A diplomatic spat between Guinea and Senegal has escalated with Senegal now banning all airplanes traveling to and from Guinea from flying in its airspace.

Senegal's ministry of transportation announced the ban Tuesday. The statement said the decision came after Guinea grounded a Senegal Airlines flight in Conakry, reportedly over unpaid fees owed by the now-defunct Air Senegal International.

Senegal's transportation ministry said it was illegal to ground the Senegal Airlines flight, since the airline is a mostly privately-owned company with no relationship to Air Senegal, which had been a partnership between the Senegalese government and Royal Air Maroc.

Senegal and Guinea's recent diplomatic troubles erupted when Guinean President Alpha Conde accused the Senegalese government of participating in an assassination plot against him. Senegal denies any involvement.