LUSAKA, Zambia -- The Association of African Air Forces sponsored by U.S. Air Forces Europe – Air Forces Africa in collaboration with the Zambia Air Force, will co-host the African Air Chiefs Symposium in Lusaka, Zambia, Feb. 17 - 21, 2025.
The symposium is a multinational security cooperation initiative identifying key challenges confronting African air forces. This year’s theme is ‘Strategic Collaboration and Operational Excellence: Enhancing effectiveness of the Association of African Air Forces.
During the symposium, African air forces will conduct a tabletop exercise focused on a humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenario.
The TTX is a key step in advancing the AAAF exercise series, the tactical means by which the Association will operationalize its goals of developing each African Air Force’s capacity, capability, and interoperability. This year’s TTX exercise will solidify strategies, which participating air forces will execute in an operational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise in 2026.
“The multilateral partnerships developed during the African Air Chiefs Symposium are key in the preparation and response to cross-continental natural disasters. Developing African-led solutions to these enduring challenges will help save lives,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and AAAF co-chairman.
The symposium is intended to foster more effective military relationships between AAAF’s participating nations. Approximately 40 African nations will participate in this year’s AACS.
“By fully realizing this organization, we will enhance our capability to conduct joint operations, share air assets, and respond effectively to a range of challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and search and rescue missions,” said Lt. Gen. Oscar Msitu Alfred Nyoni, the Zambian Air Force commander and AAAF chairman.
Other highlights of the symposium will include a Senior Enlisted Forum, in which African senior enlisted leaders will discuss the professional development of their enlisted corps and a Women, Peace and Security forum.
The AAAF is a voluntary, non-political organization focused on collaborative engagements to promote African-led air power solutions among 29 African member nations and the U.S. Air Force.