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AFRAA’s 56th AGA: Collaboration and Innovation for Africa’s Airlines
African Airlines Association (AFRAA) recently concluded its 56th Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Cairo, Egypt. Hosted by EgyptAir under the High Patronage of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the event was officiated by H.E. Dr. Sameh Ahmed El Hefny, the Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation.
The Assembly, themed “Transform and Develop the Airline Industry in Africa,” brought together over 600 delegates from 60 countries. Discussions focused on strategies to transform and develop the African airline industry, with key recommendations made in areas such as aircraft financing, sustainability, hub transformation, revenue management, and the pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050.
In his welcome address, Eng. Yehia Zakaria, Chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company and 2024 President of AFRAA, highlighted the resilience of the aviation industry amidst global challenges. He emphasized Egypt’s strategic investments in infrastructure and urged African airlines to focus on collaboration and sustainability.
AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, noted the industry’s recovery and growth post-pandemic, with many African airlines surpassing pre-pandemic operating levels. He highlighted AFRAA’s contributions to enhancing connectivity, sustainability, infrastructure development, and collaboration.
The Assembly also saw the election of Kenya Airways as the Chairman of the Executive Committee, LAM Mozambique as the first Vice Chairman, and Tunisair as the second Vice Chairman. TAAG Angola was elected as the President of the Association and will host the 57th AGA in Luanda, Angola, from November 30 to December 2, 2025.
As part of the pre-AGA activities, AFRAA held the second edition of the AFRAA CEOs retreat, where member airline leadership teams brainstormed on the Association’s priorities and strategic plan for 2026-2030.
New members and partners were welcomed, including Z. Boskovic Air Charters Ltd, Berniq Airways, Skyward Express, and ECAir as associate members, and Aviation Co-ordination Services (Pty) Ltd, VISA, Knighthood Global Limited, and AI12 as full partners.
The 56th AGA also recognized outstanding performance in the African aviation industry through the AFRAA Annual Awards. Ethiopian Airlines was awarded Airline of the Year for Global Operations, Kenya Airways for Best Improved Results in Profit Ratio, and Eswatini Air for Best Improved Intra-Africa Connectivity.
AFRAA’s priorities for 2025 include safety, connectivity and route development, air transport sustainability, and the implementation of the AFRAA 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The Association also launched the AFRAA Route Intelligence Portal to provide members with key aviation data and analytical reports.
In a CSR initiative, AFRAA, in collaboration with the African Section of the Ninety-Nines International Organisation of Women Pilots and EgyptAir, organized a youth outreach event to promote aviation careers among students in Cairo.
The 56th AFRAA AGA was a significant step forward in transforming and developing the airline industry in Africa, setting the stage for future growth and collaboration.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has disclosed plans to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to boost the state’s transport system with the development of another rail line.
This was contained in a statement signed by, the Head, Corporate Communication, LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi in Lagos.
Ojelabi said that the AfDB Vice President, Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, gave the assurance during a visit to LAMATA.
He added that the bank was interested in partnering LAMATA to expand the capacity of the existing rail system.
“Quaynor was also in the company of the Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Equity Specialist, Mr Mayowa Ayodele ahead of a visit of the technical team to assess the Purple line,” he said.
The Purple Line is a 60-kilometre railroad along the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, traversing Berger, Agege and Alimosho and terminate at Volkswagen to join the Blue Line.
“The visit follows a recent pitch for investment on 60-kilometre Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Purple Line at the African Development Bank forum in Morocco, where the Lagos delegation was led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This is to further discuss collaboration on the project and other lines outlined in the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The delegation toured the LRMT Blue Line and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Blue Line rail system,” he said.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government the 36 states over the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.
SERAP is arguing that “the repressive use of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 by the government to criminalize legitimate expression violate the human rights of Nigerians, including activists, journalists, bloggers and social media users”.
In a statement on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, explained that the suit was filed to stop the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s 36 governors from using the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalize legitimate expression and punish Nigerians, including social media users.
He said: “Rather than using the amended legislation to make cyberspace and its users safer, Nigerian authorities are routinely weaponizing it to curb Nigerians’ human rights and media freedom.
“The suit no: ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025 was filed last week before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.”
Recall that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had on March 25, 2022, declared Section 24 of Nigeria’s original Cybercrimes Act 2015 as “arbitrary, vague, and repressive.”
The court ordered Nigeria to repeal the provision, citing non-compliance with human rights obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Although the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 repealed Section 24, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) argues that the reworded provisions still infringe upon freedom of expression and information.
SERAP’s concerns center around the ambiguity of “causing a breakdown of law and order” in Section 24(1)(b), which they believe threatens peaceful and legitimate expression and leaves room for abuse.
SERAP highlighted several instances where the law was allegedly misused to target government critics, including activist Dele Farotimi, journalist Agba Jalingo, and social media user Chioma Okoli.
The organization emphasized that the amended legislation has a chilling effect on human rights and media freedom.
SERAP stressed that the amended Act contravenes international human rights law, which requires restrictions on freedom of expression to serve a legitimate purpose and be strictly proportionate.
The organization seeks a declaration that Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 is unlawful and an order directing the government to repeal or amend the legislation in compliance with international standards.
However, a hearing date has not been set for the suit.
Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has applauded Mr. Monday Okpebholo, Edo State governor, for the appointment of Mr. Collins Edomaruse as his Special Adviser, International Development Partners (IDP).
Ms Maureen Chigbo, president of GOCOP and publisher of RealNews Online, described Edomaruse’s appointment as a welcomed development.
Chigbo in a press statement by Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, GOCOP Publicity Secretary, also congratulated Edomaruse for this appointment assuring of support from over 110 members of GOCOP in carrying out his duties.
Until his appointment, Edomaruse who is a founding member of GOCOP and the Secretary General of the body of reputed online publishers is also a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), among others.
Edomaruse doubles as the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of METROWATCH, and has held several senior editorial management positions in THISDAY, including Group News Editor, Group Politics Editor, Deputy Editor, Daily, Saturday and Sunday titles respectively, as well as the Editor, Nation’s Capital/Abuja Bureau.
Also known as ‘General’ because of his mastery of the Defence Beat, his records in THISDAY have remained unbeaten, where he ranked the best among the editors.
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