African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has revealed Namibia as the 34th African State to join the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063. This was revealed by the Commission on its Twitter page.
“The Republic of Namibia has signed the Solemn Commitment indicating that it is fully committed to participating in and implementing the African Union’s Decisions concerning full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on liberalization of air transport market in Africa and establishment of Single Market for Air Transport in Africa (MUTAA)”.
SAATM, which was launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the end of January 2018, is an ambitious initiative to connect African countries and streamline continental aviation transportation and trade. It holds the potential to significantly increase Namibia’s intra-Africa trade.
Speaking at the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA’s) Annual General Assembly in 2019, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac, said if implemented SAATM gives Africa the potential for economic transformation.
The other countries acceding to MUTAA are: South Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal , Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Togo, Chad and Zimbabwe. These countries represent more than 80% of the existing aviation market in Africa.