AfCAC Media Network | Lomé Dispatch |Day 2 – 16 June, 2026

Day 2 – 16 June, 2026 – When Africa’s High-Level Triumvirate Roared for SAATM”

When Africa’s High-Level Triumvirate made a Stentorian Roar for SAATM”

https://ecowasbusinessnews.com/blog/2026/06/16/when-africas-high-level-triumvirate-made-a-stentorian-roar-for-saatm/#:~:text=FEATURE-,When%20Africa%E2%80%99s%20High%2DLevel%20Triumvirate%20made%20a%20Stentorian%20Roar%20for%20SAATM,-By

Are you ready for the AU Theme of 2027?

From February 2027, as the continent reflects on 25 years of the AU, it will also be doing introspection over how the Single African Air Transport Mechanism can be fully-realised.

Credit: afCaC booth at ongoing Air Convention in #Lome, Togo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZoVHrcIeEL/?igsh=eHhvYjZ4ZXJsYWQy

Day 1. #AFRIeximBank on the floor explaining its contribution towards the aviation sector.Blocked funds of airlines have been resolved due to countries paying through #PAPSS by @afcftasecretariat.This is true – as evidenced by literature I have read from #AFRAA on how countries are dealing in clearing blocked funds.Emerging actors on Aviation- *AfdB* + AfriEximbank that has already done a lot to support the sector means exciting times ahead for prosecuting #SAATM.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZoYYHcslYg/?igsh=MWo1OHVvYzZsYXhhag==

#Nigeria’s aviation minister explains:We need to develop availability of routes, *before thinking about volume of demand*.We need to look at aligning our #BASAs (bilateral air services agreements) with #YAMASSOUKRO Decision (YD), and Saatm.Let’s remove protectionism, and move towards an African Sky.Minister unilaterally approves fifth freedom routes – no consultation of civil servants!Nigeria is promoting African airlines. *They will give sovereign deals to private investors. A national aircraft platform.* Idea is to *promote African routes* – not compete with Asky…but to COMPLEMENT.As Chairman of Banjul Accord Group, identifying *establishment of a regional carrier*.

#AfCAC

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZoZvrQsEvN/?igsh=dW41dmR2bmJ5djYz

CEO of @asky_airlines says #Africa is taxing aviation more than alcohol and tobacco!*5th freedom is engine for Africa’s integration*, adds SG of AfCAC @funkiadeyemi.ASky offers brief masterclass on solutions to deepen connectivity of Africans. #VisaFree + 5th freedom rights.Simple!#AfCAC#agenda2063 #Lome

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZocqDvs2jb/?igsh=MTB1OHRxbHJvNXpweA==

One of Africa’s air cargo connectivity gaps is a market development gap: the routes, frequencies, cargo links, and commercial incentive structures required to support a truly integrated air transport market are not yet fully in place. Limited market access, combined with the low effective use of 5th and 7th freedom rights for cargo, continues to constrain the growth of intra-African air services, trade flows, and logistics connectivity.This session directly addresses this implementation challenge, grounded in evidence from the AUC Continental Study on Air Cargo Services and Trade Routes, and aligned with the objectives of SAATM and AfCFTA to expand market access, strengthen air cargo connectivity, and support trade-led regional integration.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZpEBsbM_nl/?igsh=MXZ5MDlnemQzNWQ0Zg==

When a High-Level Triumvirate made a Stentorian Roar for SAATM

By E K Bensah Jr in Lome

SAATM Media

They say good things come in threes!

A historic precedent was set yesterday at the opening of the first-ever Air Convention and Expo when two sitting Presidents – from West and East Africa – and a former President hit aviation headlines with a stentorian roar to change the face of Africa’s aviation.

When President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo walked into the main hall with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, it wasn’t just symbolic; it was fitting for the moment.

Here was the AU’s Champion for SAATM in Togo flanked by his equally high-level counterpart from Rwanda that was also present in 2018 when SAATM was launched.

Even more fitting was the point that Rwanda had developed a nine point Communique, the Kigali Communique, back in September 2025 to underscore the importance of SAATM.Core objectives of the Communique include accelerated integration; market competitiveness; institutional strengthening and continental prioritization.

The communique pushes for the full domestication of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and SAATM provisions into national legislation and Air Services Agreements.

With regard to market competitiveness, it calls for the removal of unfair restrictions on traffic rights and the reduction of excessive taxes, fees, and charges that hinder affordability and market competitiveness.

It also calls for the strengthening of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) as the executing agency for SAATM through sustainable funding and political backing.

Finally, it backs the designation of SAATM as the African Union (AU) Theme of the Year for 2027 to elevate air transport integration to the highest political level.

For Togo’s part, the President was emphatic in explaining that the Single African Sky is not only just about routes, but about mobility; trade; and regional integration.

For Togo, a more connected Africa can work better together, and opening the African Sky is meaningless if visas are complex; and airfares are expensive.

www.ecowasbusinessnews.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZptcbysA96/?igsh=cm5rODBxcGlyYXd1

Five major corridors to look out for in deepening #SAATM:1. *Lagos-Abidjan-Accra:* ECOWAS’ commercial heartland corridor. Three largest cities. Most expensive corridor2. *Kigali-Nairobi-Addis Ababa*: East Africa’s integration spine. 3 most SAATM-compliant states.3. *Brazzaville-Kinshasa-Libreville*: Central Africa’s connectivity challenge. 2 capitals separated by a river. African citizens cannot fly directly to 2 of the SAATM signatory countries. No viable operator4. *Johannesbourg-Harare-Lusaka*: SADC’s highest volume corridor cluster. A commercial success story. 5. *Casablanca-Dakar-Abidjan*: continent’s most dynamic inter-regional growth corridor. Links North with West Africa’s primary markets. Established Casablanca as a genuine Pan-African hub.Source: “SAATM Continental Progress Report — 2022-2026” May 2026.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZpzrGAsUt3/?igsh=a3d4NGZ1ZzJka2Rh