Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) on the implementation of single African air transport market. Ms. Iyabo Sosina, Secretary General of AFCAC and the Assistant Secretary General of COMESA, Dr Kipyego Cheluget signed on behalf of their organizations in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
The Memorandum of Cooperation is included in the activities of the Roadmap that was created to implement the Decision of the African Union in 2015, on the establishment of a single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). SAATM was launched in January 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The MoC provides a framework for the coordination and harmonization of roles for the management of the single market. Eight African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), were involved in the development of the MoC at different stages of signing. They are COMESA, EAC, IGAD, SADC, ECOWAS, Arab Maghreb Union, Community of Sahel-Saharan States, and Economic Community of Central African States.
The MOC enters into force and immediately becomes enforceable among the parties that have appended their signatures.
Under the accord, AFCAC and the RECS will cooperate in undertaking tasks assigned to them under the Yamoussoukro Decision to ensure a smooth implementation of the Decision and realization of the SAATM. The Decision aims to promote the principles of air services liberalization.
