May 20, (THEWILL) — The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has been unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces for another two-year term during the 2026 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium held in Tunis.
The Nigerian Air Force disclosed the development on Wednesday through a statement posted on its official Facebook page, noting that the re-election reflected the confidence of African member nations in Air Marshal Aneke’s leadership and strategic vision for strengthening collective security and regional stability across the continent.
According to the Service, the renewed mandate also recognised the Nigerian Air Chief’s commitment to promoting African-led responses to terrorism, insurgency and other emerging security threats confronting several countries on the continent.
The symposium, organised under the auspices of the AAAF, brought together Air Chiefs, senior military officers, defence experts and strategic partners from across Africa to deepen collaboration in airpower development, operational interoperability and coordinated security operations.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Air Marshal Aneke emphasised the urgent need for stronger partnerships, improved intelligence sharing and enhanced operational coordination among African nations in tackling evolving security challenges.
He stated that the growing complexity of transnational threats required collective action and sustained military cooperation among African air forces to effectively safeguard peace, security and stability across the continent.
According to him, the symposium theme, “Operationalizing the Association of African Air Forces: A New Era of Shared Responsibility,” highlighted the need for practical, sustainable and African-driven solutions to threats undermining regional peace and development.
The CAS noted that African nations must increasingly rely on joint operational frameworks, coordinated responses and shared capabilities in confronting terrorism, violent extremism, illegal arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
On the sidelines of the event, the Nigerian Air Chief also held bilateral and multilateral engagements with partner air forces and international stakeholders aimed at expanding cooperation in training, intelligence sharing, joint exercises and counter-terrorism operations.
The meetings, according to military sources, are expected to strengthen operational partnerships between the Nigerian Air Force and allied air forces while boosting capacity building and regional security coordination.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
