Representatives from civil and military aviation industries, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states, policymakers, and other stakeholders are gathering in Kigali for the second Civil Military Cooperation Training in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean region.
This three-day event, which commenced on Tuesday, March 12 and will continue until March 14, focuses on strategic decision-making to promote civil-military collaboration in the aviation sector, with a particular emphasis on enhancing policy frameworks.
Rwanda’s proactive steps in implementing the pilot project of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) since 2022, alongside the introduction of visa waivers for citizens from over 100 countries as outlined in Rwanda’s Visa Regime of March 10, 2020, contribute to Africa’s push for open skies.
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The aviation sector serves as a vital pillar of the global economy, acting as the primary rapid worldwide transportation network indispensable for facilitating global commerce. It drives economic growth and job creation while also fostering international trade and tourism, among others.
Recent data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) air passenger market analysis report for January 2024 reveals a notable uptick in air traffic both domestically and internationally, with Africa experiencing a growth rate of 2.9 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic year of January 2019.
The inaugural training session focused on enhancing the safe and optimal utilisation of airspace by both civil and military organisations. This yielded critical conclusions and recommendations, including the imperative for all states to institute some form of civil-military cooperation to ensure effective airspace management and security.
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Speaking on the importance of civil-military cooperation, Adikiny Olwenge, an air transport and aviation expert working on the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) Programme at COMESA, noted that such collaboration facilitates direct routing, leading to reduced distances and travel times. This, in turn, exerts a positive impact on fuel consumption, ultimately resulting in decreased carbon emissions and fuel expenses for airlines.
The consequent environment fosters healthy competition in air fares, thereby benefiting the flying public.
Olwenge highlighted that while successful implementations of strategies like Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) have been witnessed elsewhere, the primary focus of the ongoing training is to tailor international standards to align with the unique national and regional aspirations of the Eastern African, Southern African, and Indian Ocean regions. He underscored the persistent challenge of high airfares attributed to the substantial taxes levied by individual countries, lamenting that despite past endeavours, the region has yet to address this issue comprehensively.
Adhering to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which advocates for a unified African air transport market, Olwenge emphasised the impending significance of this initiative. "With the realisation of a single African air transport market, the airspace is expected to witness a surge in air traffic. Despite the airspace’s finite nature, the collaboration between civil and military entities becomes imperative to ensure its efficient and flexible utilisation.”
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Paul Christian Rwegasha, Principal Civil Aviation Officer at the EAC Secretariat, emphasised the collective regional goal of fully operationalising the Single African Air Transport Market. He stressed the importance of enhanced airspace coordination and the implementation of flexible frameworks to achieve this objective across the region.
Rwegasha highlighted ongoing efforts to raise awareness among industry players, given the escalating demand for air traffic.
He expressed confidence in the feasibility of realising the single African air transport market, citing strong support from African heads of state. "African leaders are committed to fostering intra-trade and economic cooperation, facilitated by regional and continental trade blocs. This concerted effort shows the continent’s determination to overcome existing barriers and propel the realisation of a unified African air transport market.”
Adolphe Musafiri, Director of Flight Safety Services at Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, emphasised the benefits of seamless cooperation between civil and military entities in aviation. He noted that in regions where such collaboration is fully realised, airspace operates as a unified entity without distinct civil or military sectors. This integrated approach facilitates flexible use of airspace daily, addressing the escalating demand expected with the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market.
Musafiri highlighted the importance of efficiently utilising airspace to ease travel and accommodate increased demand, particularly in Africa. He underscored Rwanda’s desire for broader participation in this endeavour, recognising it as a collective journey with benefits for all involved parties.
According to the officials, establishing a stable, secure, and sustainable environment in the aviation sector necessitates concerted collaboration among stakeholders at all levels. In pursuit of this goal, initiatives like the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme, led by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat and its affiliates, are dedicated to bolstering regulatory capacity, institutional structures, and air navigation efficiency.
Out of COMESA’s 29 member states, 14 have already signed onto the Single African Air Transport Market (SATAM). COMESA is also actively engaging with other states to encourage their commitment to joining the market, anticipating the surge in traffic once it becomes fully operational. 38 out of the 54 African member states have signed the agreement.