Nigeria Pushes African-Led Counterterrorism Drive as CAS Aneke Re-Elected AAAF Chairman
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening African-led security cooperation and collective responses against terrorism, insurgency and transnational threats across the continent.
Air Marshal Aneke made the declaration while chairing the 2026 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium held in Tunis from May 11 to 15 under the auspices of the Association of African Air Forces.
The symposium brought together Air Chiefs, senior military commanders and strategic partners from across Africa to deepen collaboration in airpower development, interoperability and coordinated security operations aimed at promoting peace, stability and sustainable development on the continent.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Nigerian Air Force chief 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 jointly develop practical and sustainable solutions to evolving security challenges.
According to him, terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and humanitarian crises continue to threaten Africa’s peace and prosperity, making stronger partnerships, intelligence sharing and enhanced operational coordination among African air forces imperative.
“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,” Aneke stated.
The CAS noted that the symposium marked another major step towards the operationalisation of the Association through active participation and shared commitment among member states.
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He highlighted the successful conduct of the Table-Top Exercise during the 2025 symposium in Lusaka as a critical milestone ahead of the planned Field Training Exercise scheduled to hold in Kenya in February 2027.
According to him, such initiatives are essential to improving interoperability, operational readiness and coordinated responses to both security and humanitarian challenges across Africa.
The symposium also featured strategic presentations and high-level engagements focused on enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of African air forces in tackling emerging security threats.
On the sidelines of the event, Air Marshal Aneke held bilateral and multilateral meetings with partner air forces and international stakeholders aimed at expanding cooperation in training, joint exercises, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism operations.
The engagements, according to the Nigerian Air Force, further reinforced the Service’s commitment to building stronger strategic partnerships to enhance operational effectiveness, support ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns and promote regional stability.
In a major outcome of the symposium, Air Marshal Aneke was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces for another two-year term, reflecting what member nations described as confidence in his leadership and strategic vision for the organisation.
In his closing remarks, the CAS said the symposium had provided a valuable platform for addressing evolving security challenges and strengthening cooperation towards collective airpower development across Africa.
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, reflects the growing determination among African nations to pursue lasting peace, security and prosperity through partnership, innovation and collective action.