Association of African Air Forces


The Association of African Air Forces is a voluntary and non-political organization; membership is open to Air Forces or their equivalent within the continent of Africa and the United States of America. The Association is operated with support from the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa ; a United States Air Force major command and a component command of both United States European Command and United States Africa Command.
AAAF exists as a collaborative, decision-making organization to promote African-led air power initiatives that address trans-national threats, and efficient use of air resources to improve air operations across Africa. During the 5th annual African Air Chief Symposium, AAAF proceedings established that all signatory members "have an equal voice within the association, and will be recognized as the air forces or the equivalent service of every other signing country."

Charter

The Charter of the Association of African Air Forces was formally signed into agreement on Sept. 17, 2015 by the U.S. and three African nations during the 2015 African Air Chief Symposium in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
According to the Executive Summary following the 2015 African Air Chief Symposium:
"Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Chiefs of Staff from eighteen African countries participated in the event, which focused on continuing to build a network of airmen to increase the capabilities of airpower in Africa ."At the conclusion of the 2019 Symposium, three additional Air Forces signed, bringing the total number of signatories to 26.

African Air Chiefs Symposium

A function of the Association is to help assemble and advocate partnerships during the annual African Air Chief Symposium, hosted in a different country each year. The symposium serves as a cornerstone event to help members establish AAAF chairmen and liaison officers.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 2011: United States Air Forces Africa, in cooperation with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, hosted the first African Air Chiefs Conference from 25-28 april 2011. This high-level event was an opportunity to explore contemporary air domain challenges faced by African Air Forces and discuss the conference's central theme, Building Air Partnerships Across Africa. The Conference was attended by forty-one participants and sixty-one observers representing twenty-four African countries. The conference aimed to provide African Air Chiefs and other senior-level military leaders with an opportunity to build rapport and discuss their shared air safety and security challenges. Throughout the conference, attendees contributed a diversity of perspectives and exchanged ideas aimed at enhancing Africa's ability to manage its air domain.
Dakar, Senegal, August 2012: The United States Air Forces Europe and the Senegalese Air Force, with support from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, hosted the North/West African Regional Air Chief's Conference with the theme "Beyond partnerships: Building Operational Frameworks for Cooperation". The conference goals were to continue the strategic dialogue started at the 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference at the regional level and provide a vehicle to increase cooperation among West and North African Air Forces. Specifically, the conference provided a forum to foster multilateral dialogue regarding common challenges in the Trans-Sahel region and promoted collective security efforts within the region.
Accra, Ghana, August 2013: The U.S. 3rd Air Force commander and the Ghanaian Chief of Air Staff hosted the Regional Air Chiefs Symposium at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center.
Douala, Cameroon, September 2014: United States Air Forces Africa and the Cameroon Air Force co-sponsored the fourth annual 2014 African Air Chiefs Symposium in Douala, Cameroon, with the support of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Air Force Chiefs of Staff from fourteen African countries participated in the event, which focused on developing effective African air power strategies and formalizing a network among the air chiefs. They analyzed the role of air power in providing security in their countries and regions, the challenges facing this objective, and the steps they must take to reach their goals. They specifically noted issues of political will, the changing nature of threats, and the pervasive lack of familiarity with the role of air forces in providing security, from citizens to heads of state. In this process, the air chiefs learned about the network of Latin American air forces, the Sistema de Coperación Entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas and indicated that this would be a good model for building their own organization.
Nouakchott, Mauritania, September 2015: United States Air Forces in Europe – United States Air Forces Africa and the État Major de l’Armée de l’Air des Forces Aériennes de Mauritanie co-hosted the fifth annual African Air Chiefs Symposium. Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Chiefs of Staff from eighteen African countries participated in the event, which focused on continuing to build a network of airmen to increase the capabilities of airpower in Africa. The Association of African Air Forces charter was signed at the end of the symposium.
Ramstein, Germany, May 2016: The sixth annual African Air Chiefs Symposium was held in Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Chiefs of Staff from 26 African countries participated in the event, which focused on the opportunity to utilize mobility operations to increase overall impact of airpower in Africa. The symposium aimed at fostering a strategic dialogue on improving airlift operations across the continent.
Kasane, Botswana, May 2017: Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe-United States Air Forces Africa and the Botswana Defence Force Air Arm co-hosted the seventh annual African Air Chiefs Symposium. Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Chiefs of Staff from 28 African countries, the African Union and the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, participated in the event, which focused on the importance of training and force development to increase the capacity of African Air Forces. The symposium aimed at fostering a strategic dialogue on improving training coordination and cooperation across the continent. The 2017 event was the first to be held in Southern Africa.
Marrakech, Morocco, October 2018: Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe-United States Air Forces Africa and The Botswanan Defence Force co-chaired the eighth annual African Air Chiefs Symposium. Seventeen signatories were present and, during the Executive Session, Kenya and Zambia signed the charter bringing the AAAF membership to 22 members.
Nairobi, Kenya, August 2019: Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe-United States Air Forces Africa and the Kenya Air Force co-hosted the Association of African Air Force’s ninth annual African Air Chiefs Symposium. Air Force Chiefs of Staff or their designated representatives from 35 African nations, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Defense Policy, and the Ambassador of the United States of America to Kenya participated in the event. The Kenya Air Force Commander, Major General Francis O. Ogolla, as AAAF Chairman and USAFE-AFAFRICA Commander, General Jeffrey L. Harrigian, as Co-Chairman led all Symposium proceedings. The Symposium aimed at fostering a strategic dialogue on air policies and procedures in personnel recovery. At the conclusion of the symposium, three additional Air Forces signed and joined the 23 current members of the AAAF, bringing the total number of signatories to 26.
The next African Air Chief Symposium will be held in Rwanda, July 2020. The event will afford the opportunity for additional African countries to sign the Charter and/or participate in discussions on air power in the continent.

Current Signatories

Cameroon Air Force
Chadian Air Force
Air Force of Ivory Coast
Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ghana Air Force
Guinea-Bissau Air Force
Kenya Air Force
Lesotho Defence Force
Malagasy Air Force
Malawian Defence Force
Military of Mali Air Force
Mauritania Islamic Air Force
Niger Armed Forces - Air Force
Nigerian Air Force
Air Force of the Republic of Congo
Rwandan Air Force
Senegalese Air Force
Seychelles People's Defence Force Air Wing
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces
Togolese Air Force
Tunisian Air Force
United States Air Force
Zambia Air Force