Zambia hosts 14th African Air Chiefs Symposium
The 14th African Air Chiefs Symposium (AACS), co-hosted by the Zambia Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa, took place in Lusaka, Zambia from February 17-21. Alan Warnes reports.
US Airmen and delegates from various African nations attend the closing ceremony of the 14th African Air Chiefs symposium at Lusaka, Zambia February 21, 2025. IMAGE: USAF
More than 240 participants from 38 nations attended the symposium to include air chiefs, liaison officers, women, peace and security representatives and senior enlisted representatives. This year’s theme was ‘Strategic Collaboration and Operational Excellence: Enhancing effectiveness of the Association of African Air Forces.’
Zambia Air Force commander lt gen Oscar Nyoni, the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) chairman, highlighted the challenges Zambia faces with natural disasters and the importance of gathering air chiefs across the continent.
“During the African Air Chiefs Symposium 2024 in Tunisia, it became abundantly clear that the AAAF needed to redirect its efforts toward fostering multilateral collaboration and interoperability to confront these shared challenges effectively,” said Nyoni.
At the event, African air forces conducted a tabletop exercise (TTX) focused on a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario. The exercise was a key step in advancing the AAAF exercise series with the end goal to conduct an intra-continental live-fly exercise in 2026.
Commander of US Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and AAAF co-chairman, general James Hecker who attended on the third day (19th) praised the participant’s accomplishments in the TTX in addressing considerations ranging from fuel to diplomatic clearances.
A Women, Peace and Security panel brought together WPS representatives from 25 African nations to share experiences and challenges faced in their respective air forces.
The keynote panelists included major general Fatuma Ahmed, the Kenya Air Force air chief and first African female air chief, as well as United Nations representatives.
The Nigerian Air Force will chair the AAAF next year and host for AACS 2026. In his acceptance speech, air marshal Hasan B. Abubakar the NAF CAS said air power was vital in tackling terrorism, insurgency and transnational crime, calling for strengthened cooperation among African Air Forces to enhance continental security.
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