Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 28 November 2024– H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, attended the High-Level Ministerial Meeting of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to commemorate Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) Day. The event, held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, brought together key stakeholders to reflect on progress achieved and reaffirm the commitment to seamless connectivity across the African continent.

In his remarks, H.E. Mene highlighted the importance of integrating aviation into trade facilitation under the AfCFTA framework. He emphasised the Secretariat’s ongoing collaboration with AFCAC and aviation stakeholders to harmonise aviation and trade policies and to mobilise resources for the effective implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

“The progress made under the Yamoussoukro Decision is a testament to Africa’s collective ambition to unify and strengthen connectivity. Through initiatives like SAATM, we are building the infrastructure for a truly integrated and competitive African market,” he stated.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the AfCFTA Secretariat’s dedication to fostering partnerships that unlock the economic potential of aviation, recognising its pivotal role in intra-African trade and economic integration.