Why It Matters
- TICAD IX provided a platform to strengthen Japan-Africa cooperation in civil aviation, with a focus on safety, efficiency and connectivity.
- Air transport was highlighted as a strategic necessity for Central Africa due to challenging terrain and limited alternatives to air travel.
- Cameroon positioned itself as a regional leader, presenting projects to improve connectivity and training within the CEMAC sub-region.
- A new regional aircraft maintenance training programme will create harmonised certification across six Central African countries.
- Initiatives such as the Equip4Safety project aim to expand access to essential airport equipment and infrastructure through innovative, sustainable approaches.
- The discussions underscored Africa’s determination to address persistent challenges and called for stronger intra-African and international cooperation to develop aviation.
The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) took place in Yokohama, Japan, from 20 to 22 August 2025. The event highlighted vision and strategic initiatives for the development and integration of the African continent.
Mrs Assoumou Koki Paule, Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), participated in a round table on civil aviation in Africa, presenting ideas to improve air connectivity and aviation development while outlining major projects that reinforce Cameroon’s leadership in civil aviation within the Central African sub-region.
TICAD IX served as a platform to strengthen cooperation between Japan and Africa. In the aviation sector, discussions included contributions from ICAO leaders, high-ranking officials and experts, fostering exchanges of expertise and insights into Japanese standards of safety and efficiency. For Africa, the focus was on opening new development opportunities, addressing persistent challenges and advancing towards a more connected future.
The Director General of the CCAA emphasised the strategic importance of air transport in Central Africa, citing the region’s rugged terrain and dense forests that complicate land transport. She underlined the role of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) as a means to transform African skies into an accessible network.
Challenges noted included shortages of qualified personnel, ageing infrastructure and equipment, and the limited financial capacity of airlines. As Vice President of the AFCAC Central Region, she set out commitments to work with states, regional organisations and industry partners to strengthen training opportunities and harmonise recognition of qualifications.
An example is the aircraft maintenance training programme developed by the CCAA Training School in partnership with the École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique, the Vallair Group and supported by ASSA-AC. Scheduled for delivery in the coming year at the CCAA Training School, the programme is open to applicants from the six CEMAC countries. It will enable professionals from Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Congo and the Central African Republic to obtain a common certification recognised across the region.
She also outlined support for initiatives aimed at improving access to essential airport equipment and infrastructure, including the Equip4Safety project developed by the CCAA. This project, which will be presented at the ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, promotes a circular economy and equitable access to ground equipment, showcasing innovations and solutions designed to overcome constraints and unlock the potential of African air connectivity.
The interventions underscored Africa’s determination to drive its own development, while calling for intra-African solidarity and strengthened international cooperation to advance aviation on the continent.
