travel news review


21 May '99
A gold cross weighing 5kg (11lb) has been returned to its rightful owners after two years in the wilderness. The 'Afro Ayigeba' cross was stolen from the most well known of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Medhane-Alem or Saviour's Church. It was originally donated by the 12th century king Lalibela, who is said to have built his capital here after having been instructed by God in a dream. The cross was handed over by a Belgian art collector who paid US$25,000 for it.

5 March '99
The government of Eritrea has surprised the international community by signalling its acceptance of a peace proposal drafted last year by the Organisation for African Unity [OAU]. The backflip brings hope that the long-running border dispute between the breakaway Horn of Africa nation and its southern neighbour and rival Ethiopia might finally be drawing to a close.

The reversal was preceded by recent Eritrean losses on the battlefield. Last week, Ethiopian forces broke through the battleline and advanced 10kms into enemy territory. The conflict has dragged on since the Eritrean population voted overwhelmingly for independence in 1993, as both governments contest a 620km section of the border never previously demarcated. Intense fighting killed over 1,000 people in May and June 1998 and was followed by a stalemate which ended earlier this month.

2 October '98
Regular flights by Ethiopian Airlines between Ethiopia and Sudan were resumed on 25 October. Sudan has yet to announce whether flights by Sudan Airways between Khartoum and Addis Ababa will re-commence. Flights were suspended three years ago when political tensions severed relations between the two countries.

28 September '98
After suspending flights three years ago, Ethiopian Airline will resume air services between Addis Ababa and the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Ethiopia suspended flights between the two capitals after it accused Sudan of attempting to assassinate the Egyptian president in Addis Ababa. The flights are expected to commence in November, which is good news for travellers as they will no longer have to take the expensive option of flying into Addis Ababa from Khartoum, via either Cairo or Nairobi.

10 June '98
Ethiopian warplanes have attacked an airforce base outside the Eritrean capital, Asmara. The bombing of the air base follows an attack by Eritrean forces on a school in north-eastern Ethiopia last week. Ethiopia has threatened more military action and refuses to enter into any negotiations until Eritrea withdraws from the disputed border territory. The US Department of State has issued a warning to travellers to defer any travel near or across the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and surrounding areas owing to the tensions.

8 April '98
Ethiopian Airlines will commence direct flights in June from the capital, Addis Ababa, to the United States. The airline has scheduled two flights per week from Addis Ababa to Washington, with flights to Washington on Thursdays and Saturdays with a return to Addis Ababa on the same day.

18 March '98
Ethiopian Airlines will commence flights to Zambia from 2 April. The direct flights from Addis Ababa will operate twice weekly.

25 February '98
A sudden increase in cases of kala azar, or visceral leishmaniasis has occurred in the Horn of Africa. The parasitic disease is endemic in 88 countries and, if untreated, has a mortality rate close to 100 percent.