The tourist city of Livingstone, Zambia, is hosting the second meeting of the Africa-Indian Ocean Aviation Planning and Implementation Regional Group – AASPG/2 from November 2–6, 2026.
The high-level conference, taking place at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort, is presided over by Mrs. Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki, Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority – CCAA and President of the AASPG. Under the theme “From Planning to Implementation: Moving towards a Safe, Efficient, Connected, and Sustainable AFI Aviation System,” the event convenes state representatives, civil aviation authority executives, international bodies, and key industry stakeholders.
The opening ceremony featured traditional Zambian cultural performances, setting a warm and collaborative tone for a week of discussions focused on the future of civil aviation across Africa and the Indian Ocean region.
In her opening address on behalf of the International Civil Aviation Organization – ICAO, Mrs. Koki highlighted the critical role of regional planning as a driver for transforming the African aviation sector.
She commended the hospitality of the Zambian government, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, and the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority for hosting the landmark gathering.
Recalling the group’s inaugural meeting held last year in Libreville, Gabon, Mrs. Koki emphasized the value of the new regional framework. This architecture streamlines priorities by aligning air safety concerns with air navigation service planning and implementation.
The central objective of the Livingstone session is to move beyond setting guidelines and focus on execution, ensuring that adopted decisions yield measurable operational results across the continent.
The meeting comes at a pivotal time of rapid change in air transport, driven by traffic growth, technological evolution, and heightened demands for safety, efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. Participants will review ongoing initiatives launched since the Libreville meeting, including airspace modernization, search and rescue operations, air navigation infrastructure development, safety oversight, and safety planning, ensuring these efforts yield tangible progress.
Key dignitaries in attendance include Mrs. Lucy Wanjiku Mbugua, Regional Director of the ICAO Eastern and Southern African – ESAF Office; Mr. Romain Ekoto, Regional Director of the ICAO Western and Central African – WACAF Office; Captain Gabriel Chileshe Kunda, Board Chairman of the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority; and Captain Derrick Luembe, Director General of Civil Aviation in Zambia.
The Mayor of Livingstone, Mr. Bright Hanakamba, welcomed the international delegations as they begin five days of evaluation, strategic planning, and formulation of recommendations to enhance air navigation performance throughout the Africa-Indian Ocean region.
