The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has outlined programmes for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Commission and the 20th Anniversary of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD). The two coinciding events hold from 14 -15 of November 2019 at the seat of AFCAC in Dakar, Senegal.
AFCAC is the Specialized Agency of the African Union responsible for all civil aviation matters on the continent. AFCAC’s mission has been the facilitation of cooperation and coordination among African States towards the development of integrated and sustainable air transport system, as well as fostering the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) by Member States.
By mandate, AFCAC is the Executing Agency of the YD and charged to supervise and manage the liberalization of African air transportation. The Yamoussoukro Decision on the liberalization of access to air transport markets in Africa was adopted in 1999 by African Ministers of Transport and entered into force in 2000 following its endorsement by Heads of States and Governments of the African Union. It provides for the liberalization of scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services within Africa and aims at removing restrictions on traffic rights, capacity and frequency between city pairs.
Significantly, AFCAC is also the Executing Agency of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) which was launched in January 2018 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and designated as a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, thus placing implementation of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision on the Liberalization of Air Transport Market in Africa in the context of Agenda 2063.
At the ceremonies in mid-November 2019, special emphasis will be placed on the achievements of AFCAC and of its mandate as Executing Agency of the YD and on the establishment of the SAATM. The challenges, achievements and the future strategic objectives of the Commission will also be in focus.
Among other aims, the two events will foster awareness on the opportunities and overall benefits associated with the liberalization of the air transport, provide implementation status on the Joint Priority Action Plan, and promote advocacy of regulatory texts of the YD.
The event is also expected to get more States join the SAATM through signing of the Solemn commitment; establish common understanding among stakeholders on the work plan of the operationalization of the Executing Agency and establishment of the SAATM, among others.
Participants will include inter-alia President and Dignitaries of the host State, Senegal; Champion State of the SAATM, President of Togo; Chairperson of the African Union; African Member States and Regional Economic Communities (AU-RECs); Members of the Ministerial Working Group (WG) of SAATM; President and Secretary General of ICAO; AFRAA and other Airlines of member States; Air Navigation and Airport Services providers; Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs); International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI), Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), Aviation Professional Associations, Press, and others.