Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nathan Eckert | RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Joshua J. Wiener, USAFE-AFAFRICA command chief, pose for a group photo with the Association of African Air Forces representatives from Kenya, Nigeria and Tunisia during the AAAF planning conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 3, 2026. The weeklong conference strengthened multinational partnerships and advanced planning for future AAAF initiatives, including AAAFEX27 in Kenya. see less
| View Image Page
African air forces chart path toward 2034 during AAAF planning conference
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa hosted a weeklong Association of African Air Forces planning conference Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2026, bringing together multinational military planners to advance the organization’s strategic vision and strengthen African-led airpower cooperation.
Representatives from Nigeria, the current AAAF chairing nation, along with delegates from Tunisia and Kenya and U.S. military advisers, worked to develop a three-year roadmap, integrate new organizational roles and align future multinational training and exercise initiatives.
“The AAAF planning conference this week was a huge success,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ed Salazar, AAAF Permanent Secretariat director. “We were able to bring Permanent Secretariat members from Tunisia, Kenya and Nigeria together with the shared goal of codifying a strategic vision for the organization and applying it to our first-ever African-led live-fly exercise in January 2027.”
The conference built upon guidance established during the May 2026 African Air Chiefs Symposium, translating senior-leader priorities into actionable objectives for the organization. Planners also incorporated best practices from the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces as they refined AAAF processes and long-term planning.
A key focus throughout the week was strengthening cooperation among African air forces to address humanitarian emergencies and disasters across the continent.
“The conference was particularly important because it provided an opportunity for African air forces to strengthen a shared understanding of the humanitarian and disaster response challenges confronting our continent, while reaffirming the importance of working together as one African airpower community,” said Squadron Leader O. Lawal, AAAF Permanent Secretariat public affairs officer.
Conference participants also engaged with U.S. and partner air leaders, including USAFE-AFAFRICA Plans and Programs leadership, as well as medical and contingency response experts, to identify opportunities for greater cooperation and interoperability.
Another milestone was the continued integration of newly established Permanent Secretariat positions, including the public affairs officer and continuity manager roles assigned to officers from Nigeria and Tunisia. The positions are designed to strengthen organizational continuity, communication and coordination as AAAF expands its activities.
“For the AAAF, our strength lies in our unity, the exchange of experiences and lessons, and our ability to develop African-led solutions that harness the unique capabilities of our air forces in support of communities affected by crises and disasters,” Lawal said.
Planning for future multinational exercises remained a central focus throughout the conference, particularly AAAFEX27, scheduled to take place in Kenya in January 2027. Kenyan planners worked alongside the U.S. Air Force’s 435th Contingency Response Group to evaluate support requirements, airspace control frameworks and distinguished visitor demonstration events while also beginning discussions for AAAFEX29.
AAAFEX27 will provide an opportunity to translate years of partnership and planning into practical cooperation, with humanitarian and disaster response serving as a key focus.
“As we intensify preparations for AAAFEX, our objective is to build on this spirit of collaboration by bringing together African air forces, partners and relevant stakeholders to strengthen interoperability, share best practices and enhance collective humanitarian and disaster response capabilities,” Lawal said.
The conference concluded with the development of an executive summary for member-nation air chiefs outlining the AAAF Strategic Plan 2027–2034, updated standard operating procedures and a three-year calendar of engagements designed to sustain cooperation among African air forces.
“The desired outcome is not simply a successful exercise, but a more cohesive and capable African air forces community that can respond more effectively, collectively and rapidly to humanitarian and disaster situations across the continent,” Lawal said.
Subscribe
