The Association of African Air Forces, AAAF, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s role in strengthening airpower and regional security across Africa, while expressing condolences to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria over the crash involving a NAF ATR aircraft.
The association conveyed its message of solidarity to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, who also serves as chairman of the AAAF.
The message was delivered by Major General Melissa Coburn, representing the association’s co-chairman, during the Trilateral Leadership Review Conference involving the United States, Kenya and Nigeria.
The conference, held from October 13 to 16, 2026, featured strategic engagements with regional security stakeholders, visits to key aviation facilities and discussions on preparations for the Association of African Air Forces Exercise, AAAFEX, 2027.
The exercise, scheduled for February 2027, is expected to strengthen cooperation among participating air forces and improve their capacity to respond to security and humanitarian emergencies across the continent.
As part of the engagements, the association held discussions with the Eastern African Standby Force, EASF, whose delegation was led by its Force Commander, Brigadier General Stephen Huria.
The EASF delegation expressed its commitment to participating in AAAFEX 2027, highlighting the exercise’s potential to improve Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, HADR, operations, strengthen interoperability and enhance responses to operational emergencies.
The proposed exercise is expected to provide an avenue for participating forces to improve coordination, exchange professional experience and develop the capacity to conduct joint operations in response to emerging security challenges.
The discussions also underscored the importance of cooperation among African air forces and regional security institutions in addressing threats that require coordinated military and humanitarian responses.
For Nigeria, its participation in the conference and preparations for AAAFEX 2027 further highlight the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to regional partnerships, professional exchanges and the development of collective operational capabilities.
The engagements also reaffirmed Nigeria’s contribution to efforts aimed at strengthening African airpower and improving cooperation among air forces in addressing evolving security challenges across the continent.
The AAAFEX 2027 exercise is expected to provide a platform for participating countries to deepen operational relationships and enhance their preparedness for joint responses to security threats and humanitarian crises.