AAAF Reaffirms Nigeria’s Role in African Airpower, Advances AAAFEX 2027 Preparations, Condoles NAF
The Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation among African air forces, while advancing preparations for the Association of African Air Forces Exercise (AAAFEX) 2027 and expressing condolences to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over a recent aircraft crash.
The association conveyed its sympathy and solidarity with the Nigerian Air Force following the crash involving a NAF ATR aircraft on October 5, 2026. The condolences were delivered during the Trilateral Leadership Review Conference involving the United States, Kenya and Nigeria, held in Kenya from October 13 to 16, 2026.
Representing the Co-Chairman of the AAAF, Lieutenant General Jason Hinds, Major General Melissa Coburn conveyed the association’s message of condolence and assured the Nigerian Air Force of its support during the difficult period.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the AAAF Co-Secretary General, Group Captain Olakunle Bankole, appreciated the gesture and assured the delegation that the message would be communicated to the leadership and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.
Beyond the condolence message, the conference focused on strengthening regional partnerships and advancing preparations for AAAFEX 2027, scheduled for February 2027. The planned multinational exercise is expected to improve operational coordination, strengthen interoperability and enhance the ability of participating air forces to respond collectively to security threats and humanitarian emergencies.
During the engagements, delegations held strategic discussions with the Eastern African Standby Force (EASF), assessed facilities at Kisumu Airport and visited Moi Air Base to review operational requirements and areas of cooperation.
The Commander of the Kenya Air Force, Major General Bernard Waliaula, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the successful conduct of the exercise and commended the participating teams for their efforts towards strengthening regional military cooperation.
The AAAF Permanent Secretariat also presented updates on preparations for the exercise, including its objectives, participating stakeholders, operational responsibilities and coordination arrangements. Discussions emphasised the need to translate planning into practical outcomes that would improve readiness and cooperation among participating countries.
The association further explored opportunities for the EASF to participate in AAAFEX 2027. The regional force expressed interest in contributing to the exercise, particularly in areas relating to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
The EASF delegation, led by its Force Commander, Brigadier General Stephen Huria, highlighted the importance of joint training, knowledge-sharing and improved response planning to strengthen the capacity of participating forces to manage real-life emergencies.
Similarly, the AAAF Secretary-General, Colonel Kristin Cullinan, stressed that the exercise should produce practical lessons that participating air forces could apply to their operational activities beyond the training environment.
The engagements also provided opportunities for bilateral discussions among participating countries, allowing military representatives to identify shared priorities and strengthen relationships outside the formal conference framework.
The development reinforces Nigeria’s participation in continental airpower cooperation through the Nigerian Air Force’s leadership role within the Association of African Air Forces. The collaboration is intended to strengthen operational capabilities, improve coordination among African air forces and promote collective responses to security and humanitarian challenges across the continent.
As preparations continue for AAAFEX 2027, participating countries are expected to build on the discussions and partnerships established during the conference to support a successful exercise and strengthen Africa’s collective airpower capabilities.
