PressBridge

At the third edition of the Civil Aviation Days (JDAC), member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) officially approved the establishment of a joint regional airline. The agreement was signed on April 22, 2026, in Niamey, Niger, during a high-level meeting that brought together transport ministers, heads of civil aviation authorities, and technical and financial partners.

Through this initiative, AES countries aim to equip the confederation with a shared carrier to strengthen regional connectivity. In parallel, officials also discussed plans to create a joint body responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and incidents, with the goal of improving air safety in line with international standards.

The meeting concluded with three key recommendations: pooling resources and efforts across member states, developing a coordinated roadmap for the growth of civil aviation, and expanding air freight activities within the region.

Participants unanimously emphasized the strategic importance of air transport as a driver of economic development, regional integration, and solidarity among AES countries.

The idea of launching a common airline dates back to November 2023, just two months after the formation of the AES confederation. It was first proposed during a ministerial meeting held in Bamako, Mali.