Much of the recent rumpus in Madagascar was over an aeroplane. It was the main reason that the Indian Ocean island's president, Marc Ravalomanana, was deposed by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina and forced to flee into exile in South Africa. Ravalomanana, was sentenced in absentia to four years in jail and fined $70m because he allegedly abused his position in buying a presidential jet, claims the new government.
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'Ravalomanana mixed public interests with his personal interests,' charges Madagascar's Justice Minister Christine Razanamahasoa whose department is said to have uncovered the offence. 'There was a conflict of interest because he mixed his personal money with state funds. All the legal tender procedures were not duly followed.' Former Madagascar finance minister Haja Razafinjatovo received the same sentence.
Andry Rajoelina, a 35-year-old DJ-turned-businessman, led a vociferous campaign of street protests demanding Ravalomanana's resignation before being handed the country's top job by the military.
The trouble began in the latter half of 2008 when Ravalomanana bought a 25-seat Boeing 737-700 airliner for $6om from billionaire Roy Disney, CEO of the US Disney group. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest nations and the plush airliner quickly became a symbol of the opposition's grievances. The former leader also kindled popular outrage by selling 130m hectares of arable land to the South Korean Daewoo Corporation. Although there were promises of infrastructure development and employment, the land was to be used principally to grow food for Korean consumption.
Ravalomanana is in South Africa trying to drum up international support and the jetliner is up for sale.
What is it about presidential jets that every leader wants one? Few emerging economies can afford the jet planes they eventually end up buying for their heads of state, but that does not always enter the equation when presidents go kicking the tyres of the latest in luxury aerial transportation - it's all about the bigger, better, flashier and faster way of making an entrance. We thought some catching up was necessary to find out who has got what parked in the hangars of their presidential chiefs.
Some of Africa's presidential jets
Uganda
The Ugandan leader currently has two presidential jets: a new Gulfstream G550 acquired recently and the president's old one, a Gulf-stream GIV-SP, the presidency is holding onto until the used jetliner resale market improves. Uganda's State House comptroller Richard Muhinda says the global credit crisis is making it difficult to find a buyer for the old GIV-SP to help them service a loan of $48m it acquired from the Bank of Uganda to buy the new jet for President Museveni.
The opposition is up in arms because, they claim, State House had promised Parliament that the GIV-SP would be sold off first, in order to cut down on costs.
The Gulfstream G550 has a range of around 12,000km at Mach 0.80, putting Kampala within reach of most world capitals in one hop. 'The cabin aboard the G550 combines productivity with exceptional comfort,' says the Gulfstream website. 'It features up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, a choice of 12 floor-plan configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers. Maintaining contact with the home office is easy thanks to a host of standard communication features: a fax machine, a printer, a wireless local area network and satellite communications.'
Kenya
President Kibaki has a Fokker 70 and we must assume that it is shared with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The Fokker executive plane was purchased at a cost of $50m. The 70-seater jet was reconfigured into a 28-seater, with three suites, bathroom and kitchen. It is equipped with the latest telecommunicaton facilities. Prior to the purchase of the Fokker, the Kenyan president primarily used Kenya Airways for his international travel.
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Botswana
President Ian Khama keeps up appearances with a Gulfstream IV as the presidential transport. The Gulfstream G400 has a large cabin convertible into presidential suites, lounges, office, kitchen and bathroom. Its range is 8,060km at a typical cruise height and speed of 45,000 feet at Mach 0.88. The cost is around $36m at 2004 prices.
Introduced in 2003 the G400's large cabin and long range has made it a favourite with VIPs.
Ghana
Many Ghanaians maintain that President John Kufuor's NPP lost the election to opponent Atta Mills because of the purchase of two ritzy jetliners and an armour-plated BMW. 'President Kufuor judged wrongly in buying two presidential jets in an election year,' says Mustapha Hamid, presidential candidate advisor and commentator.
'There is still a pervasive poverty mentality in Ghana. Not just the mentality, but indeed there is pervasive poverty. And in an election year, when world oil prices had been unkind to our fragile economy and when a desperate opposition was capitalising on the situation to incite hatred against the government, it was simply bad judgment to order not one, but two executive jets.'
The aircraft purchased were reportedly a French Dassault Aviation Falcon and an Airbus 319, each costing around $40m.
One of the jetliners, for the exclusive use of the president, reportedly has an in-built massage parlour. It cannot be ascertained if the aircraft order, due for delivery in 2010, has been cancelled by the Atta Mills' administration.
Namibia
The government uses a Dassault Falcon 900B for VIP transport. The Falcon 900B is a three-engined, wide body long-range business jet. It was derived from the earlier Falcon 50, sharing the same wing configuration, but fitted with a much wider and more spacious cabin. It can carry 19 passengers with a crew of two, or can be refitted into a luxury flying office with bedrooms, anterooms, office with up-to-the-minute communications and all-in fitted kitchen. The 900 has been developed into a family of versions.
The 900B was developed from the basic Falcon 900 and fitted with uprated engines giving the aircraft greater range. Various detail improvements were also made to enhance its performance. Many early 900s have been upgraded to the 900B. It cruises at around 900km/h with a range of some 8,400km at a ceiling of 51,000ft.
The Namibian Air Force also maintains a Learjet 35 business aircraft for small-party, short or long haul VIP travel. It is powered by two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engines. Its cabin can be arranged for 6-8 passengers.
Nigeria
The Air Force maintains a Boeing 737 business jet for the president. The Seal of the President of Nigeria is embossed on the tail of the presidential Boeing 737 used by the Head of State for official international travel. In addition, the Air Force keeps ready a Gulfstream V, a Gulfstream IVSP and two Falcon 900s.
The former military government commandeered one of the Falcon 900s and a BAe 800 from the national oil company and the central bank respectively. However, the BAe 800 and a Cessna Citation Bravo were ordered to be returned to the Air Force for military use by President Yar' Adua in January this year.
South Africa
The President travels in a Boeing 737-7ED. Operated by the South African Air Force's 21 Squadron, based at AFB Waterkloof near the capital city of Pretoria, the President's Boeing 737-7ED, named the Inkwazi (Fish Eagle), is based on the Boeing 737-700 and is registered as ZS-RSA. The aircraft arrived in South Africa at AFB Waterkloof on 21 October 2002. It is primarily used to transport the South African Head of State and presidential entourage.
According to the Swiss designers Jet Aviation, the aircraft's interior, with seating for up to 18 passengers and six crew members, is designed with a contemporary theme influenced by Africa. The interior consists of four sections, including a lounge with a convertible bed, an adjoining master office, a senior executive office and executive space in addition to a crew rest area, storage area, full galley and lavatory.
The cockpit and cabin are outfitted with communication tools including SATCOM, telephone, telefax and Airshow. A passenger information system providing safety briefings, en-route visual information and other information is installed.
