Nigeria leads African airpower integration push, Aneke re-elected AAAF Chair
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing African-led security cooperation, as he chaired the just concluded 2026 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium held in Tunis, Tunisia.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening, Aneke said the theme, “Operationalising the Association of African Air Forces: A New Era of Shared Responsibility,” underscored the urgency for African nations to adopt collective and practical solutions to shared security challenges.
He stressed that no single nation can independently confront the continent’s complex security environment, calling instead for stronger intelligence sharing, joint operations and enhanced operational coordination among African air forces.
“Our collective strength lies in our ability to work together, share capabilities and build a united front against forces that threaten peace and prosperity on our continent,” he said.
Aneke further noted that the symposium represents a key milestone in operationalising the AAAF through sustained collaboration among member states, highlighting progress made since the 2025 Table-Top Exercise in Zambia and preparations for a Field Training Exercise scheduled for Kenya in 2027.
He also held bilateral and multilateral engagements with partner air forces and international stakeholders on the sidelines of the event, focusing on training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation.
The CAS said the engagements reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships aimed at improving operational effectiveness and supporting ongoing counter-insurgency efforts across Africa.
In a major outcome of the symposium, Air Marshal Aneke was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces for another two-year term, reflecting strong confidence in his leadership and strategic direction.
In his closing remarks, Aneke emphasised the importance of political support, logistics cooperation, air mobility, interoperability and indigenous capacity development in sustaining long-term regional security efforts.
He added that the symposium continues to reinforce Africa’s determination to achieve lasting peace and stability through partnership, innovation and collective action.
The high-level gathering, organised under the auspices of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF), brought together Air Chiefs, senior military leaders and strategic partners from across the continent to strengthen collaboration in airpower development, interoperability and coordinated security operations.
The symposium focused on building a unified African response to evolving security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and humanitarian crises affecting several regions of the continent.