Liberalization Must Not Remain A Mere Legal Principle, Says President Gnassingbe
President of the Council of the Togolese Republic and Champion of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), His Excellency, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe has said that the SAATM must become a lived reality, rather than remaining a mere legal principle.
In his opening speech at the African Air Transport Convention and Expo currently holding at Hotel2Fevrier in Lome, Togo, Gnassingbe said “Liberalization must not remain a mere legal principle. It must become a lived reality through more routes, higher frequencies, better market access, lower costs, stronger competition and more seamless border crossings.”
He said “for too long, the promise of African connectivity has moved more slowly than the aspirations of African citizens and businesses. Yet, we know what is possible. We know that when airlinks improve, markets expand. When mobility is eased, tourism grows. When air cargo systems are strengthened, trade becomes faster, more renewable and more competitive. When regulation is smarter and more harmonized, confidence rises. And as aviation becomes more affordable, more Africans can take advantage of th continent’s opportunities.”
Theme of the convention that brought together all African ministers in charge of air transport, along with all other aviation stakeholders from across the continent, is “One African Sky: Connectivity and Sustainable Air Transport Development.”
The event holding from June 15 to 19, 2026, featured on Day two, the adoption of the Lomé Ministerial Declaration and Implementation matrix by Ministers in charge of air transport in Africa, renewing their commitment to acceleration of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) implementation, so as to reduce the cost of air transport and support a more connected, affordable, accessible and sustainable African air transport market.
