CAS Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to African Security Cooperation, Re-Elected AAAF Chairman

Published By Ayshatu S Rabo Last updated May 20, 2026

CAS Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to African Security Cooperation, Re-Elected AAAF Chairman

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening African-led security cooperation and collective responses to emerging threats across the continent.

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Air Marshal Aneke made the remarks while chairing the 2026 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium held in Tunis, Tunisia, from May 11 to 15, 2026. The symposium, organised under the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF), brought together Air Chiefs, senior military officers and strategic partners from across Africa to deepen collaboration in airpower development, interoperability and coordinated security operations.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the CAS said the symposium’s theme, “Operationalizing the Association of African Air Forces: A New Era of Shared Responsibility,” reflects the need for African nations to jointly develop practical and sustainable responses to evolving security threats.

He noted that terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and humanitarian crises continue to pose significant challenges to peace and development across the continent.

“No single nation can effectively confront today’s complex security threats alone. Our collective strength lies in our ability to work together, share capabilities and build a united front against forces that threaten the peace and prosperity of our continent,” he said.

Air Marshal Aneke highlighted the progress made by the Association, referencing the successful Table-Top Exercise conducted during the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Zambia as a milestone ahead of a planned Field Training Exercise scheduled to take place in Kenya in February 2027.

According to him, such initiatives are essential in improving interoperability, operational readiness and coordinated responses to security and humanitarian challenges across Africa.

On the sidelines of the event, the CAS held bilateral and multilateral meetings with partner air forces and international stakeholders focused on expanding cooperation in training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations.

The engagements, according to the Nigerian Air Force, are expected to strengthen strategic partnerships and improve operational effectiveness in ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism efforts.

At the close of the symposium, Air Marshal Aneke was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces for another two-year term, a development seen as a reflection of member states’ confidence in his leadership and vision for the organisation.

In his closing remarks, he emphasised the need for sustained political support, stronger intelligence sharing, enhanced interoperability, logistics cooperation and indigenous capacity development to strengthen Africa’s long-term security and operational readiness.

The statement was signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.