Africa To Partner ICAO On Security

African States have expressed willingness to partner with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to improve security at the airports.

Speaking at a regional conference of national civil aviation authorities which took place in Dakar, capital of Senegal, Dr. Harold Demeuren who presided over the conference described it as an important step in enhancing aviation security in Africa and globally.

“Africa’s recognition of the need for action to address the terrorist threat, whatever form it may take, is truly inspiring because it contributes to a global solution to the global problem”, he said.

Representatives from 35 African States in a joint statement described the ICAO Declaration as a comprehensive global policy frame-work for strengthening aviation security through international cooperation.

They pledged to implement all the items in the Declaration while taking into consideration the regional Abuja Declaration and its Roadmap on Aviation Security adopted by African States in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2010.

They called on ICAO to work with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to further develop the African Roadmap in line with the Assembly Declaration.

To this end, they stressed the need for enhancing aviation security through intensified, cooperative efforts by addressing security deficiencies and strengthening security systems.

Other groups that participated in the conference apart from the national civil aviation authorities, were AFCAC, the African centre for the study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).