Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has called for urgent improvements in intra-African air travel, stressing its importance to unlocking the continent’s trade potential.
Speaking at the official opening of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Mr. Mene told an audience of heads of state, business leaders, and policymakers that fragmented aviation networks remain one of the biggest bottlenecks to the movement of goods, services, and people across Africa.
“Africa cannot fully realize the promise of the AfCFTA if our skies remain divided. Too many delegates here today had to transit through Europe to reach Algiers. That must change,” he said.
Mr. Mene underscored that implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship African Union initiative, is vital to reducing costs, expanding passenger and cargo services, and bringing African economies closer together.
“We must dismantle the barriers that keep African nations isolated from each other,” he added.
The AfCFTA boss argued that better air connectivity would not only facilitate trade but also boost tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. He further urged stronger collaboration among African airlines, regulators, and governments to create a unified aviation ecosystem that matches the continent’s growing economic integration.
His call comes at a time of renewed momentum for the Single African Air Transport Market which seeks to liberalize air transport across Africa and promote regional integration.
Panels at the week-long fair are also expected to explore logistics, digital infrastructure, and trade corridors as key enablers of continental growth.
Held under the theme “Gateway to New Opportunities”, IATF 2025 has drawn over 35,000 delegates and 2,000 exhibitors from 140 countries, making it Africa’s premier trade and investment marketplace.
Mr. Mene emphasized that aviation reform is central to the AfCFTA’s broader vision of economic transformation.
“As we invest in trade corridors, logistics hubs, and digital infrastructure, we must also ensure our skies become a symbol of unity, opportunity, and shared prosperity,” he said.
