Prior to the pandemic Qatar Airways was looking at taking a 49% stake in RwandAir after already having invested in and taken control of the Kigali airport.

The plan was to improve RwandAir’s systems and quality, and bring them into oneworld although it was not clear at the time whether the airline would become a full or ‘connect’ member of the alliance.

After nearly five years of discussions, punctuated by the pandemic, Qatar Airways finally looks ready to take the stake in RwandAir this summer as Reuters reports:

RwandAir expects Qatar Airways to finalise its purchase of a major stake in the central African country’s carrier as early as next month, chief executive Yvonne Makolo told the Financial Times.

“It’s been going on for a while, we have been discussing it for almost five years. So, now, we’re really at the tail-end of it,” Makolo said.

For the past five years, Qatar and Rwanda have been working on a deal which would give the Gulf nation’s airline a 49% stake of RwandAir for an undisclosed sum, the FT report added.

Qatar Airways declined to comment while RwandAir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer said that Qatar Airways will soon announce an investment in an airline in southern Africa.

Qatar Airways in 2019 took a 60% stake in a new $1.3 billion international airport being built in Rwanda and has code share agreements with several airlines in Africa including RwandAir.