Central Africa is about to gain one of the continent’s most open entry regimes. Chad on Friday formally installed an interministerial steering committee tasked with operationalising President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s decision to grant visa-free entry to nationals of all African countries, a policy that takes effect on 1 January 2027.The announcement itself was made in N’Djamena in July 2026, when the President committed Chad to opening its borders to every African passport holder from the start of next year. What changes now is that the decision has moved from political declaration into administrative delivery. Establishing a committee drawn from…
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Cameroon’s aviation sector is taking a decisive step towards modernisation, with Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC) confirming the pre-selection of six companies and consortia to compete for the renovation of the passenger terminal at Douala International Airport. The shortlist was formalised in a press release signed by ADC on 15 September 2026 and subsequently published by the Cameroon Public Contracts Regulatory Agency, known by its French acronym ARMP. For African travel industry professionals watching Central Africa’s connectivity story unfold, this development signals genuine progress on a long-awaited infrastructure priority.Douala International Airport holds a position of considerable strategic importance. As the primary…
Nigeria’s aviation landscape is about to witness a landmark moment as Enugu Air, the state-owned carrier of Enugu State, officially launches its first international service. Starting 23 September 2026, the airline will operate direct flights between Enugu and Douala, Cameroon, marking a significant leap in its ambitions and opening a fresh chapter for regional connectivity across West and Central Africa. For African travel industry professionals, this new route promises to reshape how business, leisure and diaspora travellers move between southeastern Nigeria and one of Central Africa’s most important commercial centres.The launch represents far more than an additional dot on the…
Gabon is stepping up its efforts to court the Nigerian outbound travel market and forge deeper tourism partnerships with fellow African nations, as the Central African country seeks to reposition itself as one of the continent’s most compelling destinations for wildlife, nature and cultural experiences. The renewed push was unveiled on the sidelines of the recently concluded 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, where Gabonese tourism representatives made a determined case for stronger commercial ties across the region.Leading the charge was Grace Ntahinta Mboumba, Chief Executive Officer of Gabon Highlights Tourism and Beyond Africa Travel Highlights and convener of…
Madagascar’s northern railway network is entering a decisive new phase, as authorities move to rescue MADARAIL from a period of sharp decline and prepare the ground for a broader modernisation of the country’s freight logistics system. For the African travel and transport community, the planned rehabilitation programme represents both a lifeline for one of the island’s most strategically important economic corridors and a potential turning point for regional trade competitiveness in the Indian Ocean.The scale of the operational challenge is stark. Freight volumes on MADARAIL’s Tananarive–Côte Est line have collapsed from more than 400,000 tonnes in 2011 to just 118,000…
Central African aviation is set for a landmark moment as Royal Airways, the Chadian private carrier, prepares to launch a brand-new direct service between N’Djamena and Bangui from 7 October 2026. The route fills a critical gap in the regional aviation map, offering a direct link between Chad and the Central African Republic that has long been missing from the continent’s connectivity landscape. For African travel professionals, this development marks another important step in the wider effort to reconnect Central Africa following the collapse of the region’s former national carrier.Royal Airways, operational since 2021, has been steadily building its reputation…
Royal Airways, Chad’s private airline, has taken a decisive step forward in its ambitious growth journey with the induction of its first Airbus-family ATR 72-500 turboprop. The aircraft, registered TT-ROD, touched down in N’Djamena on Saturday, 6 September 2026, following a stop in Johannesburg where it received a full repaint into the carrier’s fresh new livery. For an airline that has been quietly rebuilding Chad’s air connectivity since the collapse of Tchadia Airlines in 2022, the arrival marks a significant milestone with important implications for the broader Central and West African aviation trade.The 72-seat turboprop joins a fleet that has…
A significant regulatory shake-up has taken place in Central Africa’s aviation sector, as the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation, and Merchant Marine of the Republic of Congo has officially withdrawn the operating licences of sixteen domestic airlines. The decision, formalised through a series of decrees published in the country’s official gazette on Thursday, 27 August 2026, marks one of the most sweeping regulatory interventions the Congolese aviation industry has witnessed in recent memory.For travel professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, this development carries substantial implications. The Republic of Congo occupies a strategic position within Central Africa, serving as a gateway for both…
Ghana’s tourism industry has taken a bold step into the future. The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) has partnered with Africon, an AI education and consultancy services provider, to strengthen the digital capabilities of tour operators through a targeted one-day capacity-building programme. Focused on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tourism marketing and business operations, the training marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to modernise its tourism sector and equip its professionals for a rapidly evolving global marketplace.Held at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra, the programme brought together TOUGHA members for hands-on learning and structured knowledge…
Cameroon is once again turning its attention to one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects on its national agenda. The government has revived long-standing discussions over a brand-new international airport to serve Douala, the country’s economic capital, with US engineering firm A. Epstein and Sons International and financial partner Integrated Trade Finance (ITF) in talks over a proposed \$2 billion development in the Littoral region. For sub-Saharan Africa’s travel trade, the announcement signals renewed momentum behind one of Central Africa’s most anticipated aviation projects.The proposed airport would represent a significant…