The new commitment to advancing aviation safety, security, promotion, sustainability and connectivity across the African and Indian Ocean (AFI) regions came from the 10th ICAO AFI Aviation Week.
The event, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from May 26th to 30th, 2025, attracted high-level officials, including CDE Kembo Dugish Campbell Muleya Mohadi Mohadi, the vice president of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Felix Tapiwa Mona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Zimbabwe; Salvatore Sciacchitano, Chairman of ICAO Council, and Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of ICAO. with ministers and other senior representatives of African countries.
There were also the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) President Florent Sergezuzta and AFCAC Executive Director Adehun Keadeemi, as well as representatives of other regional organizations and global aviation stakeholders.
Vice President Mohadi reaffirmed Zimbabwe's commitment to squid strategic goals and regional aviation development, encouraging the prioritization of integrity in the promotion of air transport as a means to enhance efficiency and development.
In his keynote address, Council President Sciacchitano emphasized the strategic importance of AFI Aviation Week as the largest aviation aviation in the African continent. He congratulated and thanked the leadership and hospitality in hosting events in Zimbabwe and reaffirmed ICAO's commitment to supporting Africa through a partnership approach that ensures that the country is not left behind.
Secretary-General Salazar joined Sciacchitano to highlight the importance of the event as a platform that will shape Africa's aviation future, working with ICAO's new strategic plan (2026–2050) and business plan (2026–2028) and expressing his gratitude to Zimbabwe to host the event.
Salazar highlighted the opportunities and essentials of ensuring inclusive and sustainable aviation growth, noting that most future air traffic growth will occur in emerging markets like Africa. In this regard, Salazar reaffirmed ICAO's commitment to supporting African nations through initiatives such as the AFI Safety and AFI Security and Promotion Program (AFI and AFI-Secfal Program).
The Executive Director urged representatives to continue developing Africa-led strategies, work with ICAO's goals to build a resilient and future-ready aviation sector, and praised the donor nation and organization for its important contributions.
Bilateral meeting
In support of the purpose of AFI Week, Council President Sciacchitano has held a bilateral engagement with Vice President Mohadi and President Tapiwa Mhona. Yana Sansilang Muniayan, Secretary General of Malaysia's Ministry of Transport. Poppyhoza, Director of the Civil Aviation Bureau of South Africa. Secretary-General Salazar held a bilateral discussion with Zambian Minister of Transport and Logistics. Frank Museba Teyari (MP) and Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honorable Joshua. K. Sacco (MP).
The Director-General was also involved in bilateral meetings with the delegation chief and delegation chief with representatives of Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Malaysia and local organizations.
Key results and agreement
A comprehensive set of results aimed at strengthening the aviation sector in Africa emerged from the discussion. Includes important themes:
Security threats and risk-based strategies by implementing interoperable aviation navigation infrastructure with interoperable aviation navigation infrastructure with regional coordination by improving monitoring and improving risk-based monitoring, by implementing an interoperable aviation navigation infrastructure with regional coordination and a risk-based strategy that optimizes air transport connectivity by promoting the implementation of air transport by promoting combustion taxes.
As part of AFI Week, AFI Aviation Symposium promoted Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through ICAO support, capacity building and training in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Fuel (ACT-SAF) program. Advance gender equality through policy, guidance and education. Empowering young people through aviation career exposure, updated training and internships.
In all areas, a focus was placed on collaboration between the nation, ICAO, AFCAC and industry to work together with a global framework and ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in African Aviation.
The groundbreaking result of AFI Week was the holding of the first meeting of the AFI Plan, the AFI Secfal Plan, and the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Unified Steering Committee. This integrated mechanism facilitates monitoring, coordination and resource mobilization.
The meeting highlighted the need for a resource mobilization strategy to ensure sustainable funding. African countries were also urged to implement the revised Abuja safety goals and integrate them into national security plans.
The committee, which acknowledged its progress to date in addressing significant safety and security concerns caused by the ICAO audit, called for an increase in voluntary participation.
Looking ahead
The Council's President and Executive Director were accompanied by Lucy Mbugua, ICAO's ESAF Regional Director in Zimbabwe. Mr. Roman Ekoto, Wakafu Regional Director. Jorge Vargas, director of capacity development and implementation.
ICAO Executive Director Salazar said at the end of AFI week that “ICAO will continue to be fully committed to continuing to support civil aviation in Africa,” and that he has called on stakeholders to translate the energy and consensus built here into effective policies and initiatives.
Founded in Victoria Falls, the Strategic Foundation positions the region to make meaningful contributions to these upcoming forums, moving forward the African aviation development agenda on the global stage.
The ICAO-UN Tourism Ministers' Meeting, held in Luanda, Angola on July 22, 2025, presents an important platform for leveraging the air connection commitments established during AFI week.
This was followed by the third ICAO NGAP Global Summit held in Durban, South Africa on August 12-14, 2025, and the gender equality and youth empowerment initiative discussed during AFI Week could make further progress on a global scale.
Finally, the 42nd ICAO Assembly and ICAO Innovation Fair, held in Montreal, Canada in September 2025, serve as a global stage in which African countries can present a unified approach based on consensus, ensuring that continental aviation priorities are effectively expressed in international policy debates.
