African leaders, aviation regulators and industry stakeholders have renewed calls for the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), as efforts to deepen air connectivity across the continent gained momentum at an aviation convention in Lomé, Togo.
The call was made at the inaugural African Air Transport Convention, which brought together policymakers, regulators and airline executives to discuss the future of aviation integration in Africa.
The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) stressed the need for full implementation of SAATM, describing it as a major driver of trade, tourism, investment and regional integration across African economies.
The initiative, which is rooted in the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision, aims to liberalise Africa’s air transport sector by removing restrictions that limit airline operations and cross-border connectivity.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo urged African leaders to move beyond policy declarations and take concrete steps to implement a unified air transport system that would unlock economic opportunities across the continent.
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé also called for accelerated integration, noting that Africa’s connectivity progress has lagged behind the expectations of citizens and businesses.
He said improved airline connectivity would boost market expansion and tourism while strengthening regional economic growth.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other stakeholders also backed the initiative, reflecting growing political support for a more open aviation market across Africa.
The Secretary-General of AFCAC, Funke Adeyemi, said the convention aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and provides a platform for stakeholders to develop a shared roadmap toward a more competitive and integrated aviation industry.
She added that full implementation of SAATM would enhance innovation, improve efficiency, and unlock the continent’s economic potential through better connectivity.
