More than 70 civil aviation experts from across Africa have reviewed and validated key draft model instruments on Aviation Environmental Protection (ICAO Annex 16) and a Policy Guideline for the Development and Deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). This Validation now paves the way for Member States to domesticate Annex 16 provisions and the policy frameworks.
The crucial exercise was held from 24 – 27 March 2026 at the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Headquarters in Pretoria. Outcomes of the workshop will help the continent advance Africa’s transition towards low-carbon aviation by strengthening regulatory frameworks and positioning the continent to produce and utilise sustainable aviation fuels for both domestic use and export.
The officials drawn mainly from the aviation environmental protection and sustainable aviation fuels sector from Member States in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region, Regional Organisations, Airlines and the African Union Commission aim to establish robust regulatory frameworks for aviation environmental protection and for the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels.
Speaking during the workshop, COMESA Director of Infrastructure and Logistics Dr Bernard Dzawanda said air transport occupies a uniquely strategic position as it is the fastest means of connecting people, businesses and markets across vast distances. It has continued to play a vital role in trade, tourism, investment and mobility. “A resilient and sustainable air transport sector is therefore essential for the economic transformation of our region and continent,’’…he added ‘’the long-term sustainability of aviation depends increasingly on our collective ability to address environmental concerns and align sector development with global climate objectives. Environmental sustainability is no longer peripheral to aviation policy; it is now central to the future competitiveness, legitimacy and growth of the industry,”
SACAA Director Ms Poppy Khoza called for collaboration and a coordinated African approach that will unlock scale, investment and global competitiveness in the safe aviation fuel sector.
“We are here to align on governance, technology and implementation frameworks…this process must translate policy into implementable and bankable actions,’’ Ms Khoza said.
Speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, Head of the Transport and Mobility Division Eng. Eric Ntagengerwa said the continent is positioned to become a global leader in SAF production because of the vast agricultural resources, abundant renewable energy potential and significant availability of sustainable feedstocks – from agricultural residues to municipal waste.
‘’With the right policies and investments, Affrica can transform these assets into a thriving green aviation fuel industry,”
The delegates noted that in this regard, the development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Low-Carbon Aviation Fuels represent a critical pathway for reducing emissions from aviation.
The workshop was initiated as an activity under the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme, engaging 29 States within the EA-SA-IO region. Recognising that the majority of African States have yet to domesticate ICAO Annex 16 Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), the African Union Commission (AUC), AFCAC and COMESA agreed to elevate the validation workshop into a continent-wide event.
Among the countries that were represented are Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tunisia, Egypt, Togo, Gambia, Sudan and Mauritania.
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