By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke says Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening African-led security cooperation and collective responses to terrorism, insurgency and other emerging threats across the continent at the 2026 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium held in Tunis, Tunisia.
In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame symposium, the Symposium, which took place from 11 to 15 May 2026, was chaired by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and brought together Air Chiefs, senior military officers and strategic partners from across Africa under the auspices of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF).
Air Marshal Aneke speaking during the opening ceremony, said the symposium’s theme, “Operationalizing the Association of African Air Forces: A New Era of Shared Responsibility,” underscored the urgent need for African nations to develop practical and sustainable solutions to evolving security challenges through collaboration and shared responsibility.
He noted that terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and humanitarian crises continue to threaten peace, security and economic growth across Africa, stressing that stronger partnerships, intelligence sharing and operational coordination among African air forces remain critical to addressing the challenges.
According to the Chief of the Air Staff, no single nation can effectively tackle the continent’s growing security threats alone, adding that African countries must unite their capabilities and resources to confront forces undermining peace and stability.
Air Marshal Aneke further described the symposium as another major step towards strengthening the operationalisation of the Association of African Air Forces through active participation and collective commitment by member nations.
He highlighted the successful conduct of the Table-Top Exercise during the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Zambia as a key milestone towards the planned Field Training Exercise scheduled for Kenya in February 2027. He explained that such initiatives are vital in improving interoperability, operational readiness and coordinated responses to security and humanitarian challenges across the continent.
The symposium also featured strategic presentations and engagements focused on enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of African air forces in tackling contemporary security threats.
On the sidelines of the event, the Nigerian Air Force Chief held several bilateral and multilateral meetings with partner air forces and international stakeholders aimed at expanding cooperation in training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations.
The engagements, according to the statement, further reinforced the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships capable of enhancing operational effectiveness, supporting ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, and promoting regional stability across Africa.
During the closing ceremony, Air Marshal Aneke was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces for another two-year term, reflecting the confidence of member nations in his leadership and strategic vision for the organisation.
In his closing remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff said the symposium provided a valuable platform for addressing evolving security threats and advancing collective airpower development among African nations.
He stressed the importance of political support, intelligence sharing, interoperability, air mobility, logistics cooperation and indigenous capacity development in enhancing operational readiness and long-term sustainability.
The symposium, he added, demonstrated the growing determination among African countries to pursue lasting peace, security and prosperity through partnership, innovation and collective action.
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