- Launches AFCAC Solidarity Commitment 2026-2028
At the day two of the Maiden edition of the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026, organized by the African Civil Aviation Commission and hosted in Lomé by the Government of the Republic of Togo, the SAATM Champion State, under the patronage of H.E. Faure Gnassingbe the President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, SAATM Champion President, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and AUDA-NEPAD, African Ministers and Heads of Delegation responsible for Transport, Tourism, Trade and Finance have adopted “the Lomé Ministerial Declaration on Accelerating Accessible, Connected, Affordable and Sustainable Air Transport across Africa, marking a renewed continental commitment to accelerate implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market.”
The Secretary General of AFCAC, Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi who read the declaration stated that: “it is important that Africa is capacitated and strengthened in terms of the institutional ability to carry out this implementation work in coordination with the ecosystem as the executing agency of SAATM and YD.”
Ms. Adeyemi noted that the Declaration is also to raise “any additional points that were not captured already in the past two regarding market access, restrictions, the high-cost issues, the transportation bottleneck, the regulatory gaps and financing constraints.”
According to Ms. Adefunke, the Declaration has seven major priorities areas, which include: “Accelerating SAATM Implementation, Reducing Costs and Expanding Connectivity, Seamless Mobility, Facilitation and Infrastructure, Sustainability, Innovation and Human Capital, Safety, Security and Regulatory Capacity, Strengthening AFCAC and Sustainable Delivery, AU Theme 2027, Monitoring and Partnerships.”
Through the Lomé Declaration, Ministers reaffirmed that “air transport is a strategic enabler of continental integration, trade, tourism, investment, industrialization, regional value chains and people-to-people connectivity.” They emphasized the “urgent need to move from political commitment to measurable implementation by addressing the barriers that continue to limit the full potential of African air transport.”
The Declaration reaffirms the full and effective implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market as “a priority continental agenda for African integration and development. Ministers committed to accelerate practical implementation of SAATM at national, regional and continental levels, including through the removal of restrictive market access barriers, liberalization of air services, alignment of air services agreements with SAATM principles, and improved administrative predictability for airline designation, authorization and route commencement.
According to AFCAC, “One of the major outcomes of the Lomé Declaration is the launch of the AFCAC Solidarity Commitment 2026-2028, a resource mobilization initiative aimed at strengthening AFCAC’s capacity to implement its mandate, support Member States, accelerate SAATM implementation and advance continental aviation priorities.”
“The AFCAC Solidarity Commitment provides a practical mechanism for mobilizing direct financial resourcing, technical assistance, in-kind support, capacity-building, tools, systems and project-based support in a transparent, accountable, auditable and results-oriented manner,” says AFCAC.
The Declaration further places strong emphasis on reducing the cost of air transport in Africa. Ministers recognized that “high aviation taxes, fees and charges, together with administrative and operational bottlenecks, increase the cost of air travel and air freight, suppress demand, weaken route viability and limit the contribution of aviation to trade, tourism and economic growth.” They endorsed the “Continental Harmonized Policy Framework on Aviation Taxes, Charges and Fees as a guiding instrument for transparent, predictable, fair and growth-oriented approaches to aviation charges across Africa.”
The Ministers “committed to promote coordinated action by transport, finance, tourism, trade and aviation authorities to rationalize excessive taxes, fees and charges, improve transparency and consultation, and support measures that enhance affordability while ensuring the sustainability of essential aviation services.”
In support of continental trade and integration, Ministers committed to “promote air cargo development, corridor-based route development and priority intra-African air cargo corridors aligned with AfCFTA value chains and regional economic priorities.” The Declaration encourages “stronger collaboration among airports, airlines, cargo operators, regulators, trade authorities, development partners and financial institutions to support sustainable route development, cargo infrastructure, market development, secondary city connectivity, data sharing and commercial partnerships.”
The Declaration also calls for “practical reforms to improve seamless mobility and air transport facilitation across Africa.” Ministers committed to “improving visa openness, passenger experience, cargo clearance, digital travel systems and border management in support of SAATM, AfCFTA and regional integration. These measures are expected to reduce passenger and cargo processing delays, strengthen route viability and support the wider movement of people and goods across the continent.”
On aviation infrastructure and investment, Ministers recognized that “modern, efficient, secure, climate-resilient and commercially viable aviation infrastructure is essential for the success of SAATM and Africa’s broader integration agenda.” They called for the “preparation, packaging and financing of bankable aviation infrastructure projects, including airports, air navigation systems, cargo facilities, digital systems, safety and security infrastructure and corridor-related investments.”
The Declaration according to AFCAC also advances “Africa’s commitment to sustainable air transport and climate resilience. Ministers committed to supporting Africa’s participation in the development, production, financing and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels and other cleaner aviation energy solutions.” The Declaration highlights the importance of enabling policy frameworks, feedstock development strategies, certification alignment, infrastructure planning, financing mechanisms, regional coordination pathways and bankable cleaner energy projects.
Recognizing the importance of innovation, technology and human capital, Ministers committed to “promoting digital transformation, operational modernization, aviation data systems, technology adoption, innovation partnerships and capacity-building across Africa’s aviation sector.” The Declaration also calls for “priority attention to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals, women and youth participation, technology transfer and stronger partnerships among training institutions, regulators, operators and industry.”
The Ministers further reaffirmed that the “growth and liberalization of African air transport must be supported by strong safety, security, regulatory oversight, consumer protection, fair competition and harmonized economic regulation.” They committed to “strengthen safety and security oversight, regulatory cooperation, capacity-building, implementation of international standards and resilience against emerging threats.”
AFCAC confirms that to ensure follow-up and accountability, “the Declaration requests AFCAC, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, AfCFTA Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, Member States and relevant partners, to coordinate follow-up on the Declaration. AFCAC is also requested to prepare a post-Lomé implementation roadmap identifying priority actions, responsible institutions, indicative timelines, resource requirements and reporting arrangements.”
The Declaration further invites “development finance institutions, international partners, industry associations, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, private investors, training institutions and technology providers to support implementation.” Ministers called for “stronger coordination among continental institutions and partners to avoid fragmentation, improve programme alignment, mobilize resources and ensure that support is directed toward measurable implementation priorities.”
The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to H.E. the President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, SAATM Champion President, as well as to the Government and people of the Republic of Togo, for hosting the African Air Transport Convention and Expo 2026 and for their continued leadership and commitment to advancing African aviation.
They also commended AFCAC, the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, UNECA, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, industry stakeholders and all participating institutions for their contribution to the success of the Convention and Expo.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation And Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo endorsing the Declarations said: “the intent, spirit and letters of the declarations reflects the intentions and deliberations so far and what we all have committed to do as ministers.”
In the same vein, ministers of aviation and transport from Togo, Liberia, Ghana, Namibia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Equitorial Guinea also endorsed the declaration and pledged to grant full support to the declaration.
Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)