Lomé, Togo, 25-28 May 2018: Minister of State in charge of Transport, Hon. Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye represented Rwanda at the fourth Meeting of the Ministerial Working Group on the operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) organized by African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the Government of the Republic of Togo from 25 – 28 May 2018 in Lomé, Togo.

The objective of the meeting was to harmonise Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) between the Members of the Single African Air Transport Market. In that regard, Member States are urged to bring along their appropriate credentials to sign negotiated Bilateral Air Service Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of their respective States. Delegation for each Member State should include at least the Director General of Civil Aviation or someone with similar competence, duly authorised to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding between Member States on air transport. 

The meeting discussed the implementation status of the immediate measures to ensure the effective operation of the market and facilitate the harmonisation of air service agreements between the Member States of the single market. The meeting was also an opportunity for the AU Commission to disseminate the Competition and Consumer protection regulations of the Yamoussoukro Decision.

During this meeting, Rwanda joined other 26 African States that are Members of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) & signed a Memorandum of Implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision by States Parties to the Solemn Declaration on the Establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). On behalf of Rwanda, Minister of State in charge of Transport Hon.Eng. Jean de Dieu UWIHANGANYE signed the Memorandum.

There was also the election of new members of the Ministerial Working Group with the Bureau composed of Mali, (President), Rwanda (Vice President), Central African Republic (2nd Vice-President) and South Africa (Rapporteur).

Noting that, during the aforesaid Ministerial Working group, Hon. Eng. Jean de Dieu UWIHANGANYE signed a BASA with the Republic of Niger represented by Minister of Transport Hon. Mahamadou KARIDIO.

About SAATM

The Single African Air Transport Market was launched and established during the 30th AU Assembly summit on 28 January 2018. At the same summit, the Heads of States and Government also adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision’s institutional and regulatory texts and designated the President of Togo, H.E. Faure Gnassingbé as the Champion of SAATM. The fourth Meeting of the Ministerial Working Group, hosted by Togo, is the first meeting since the launch of SAATM.

The twenty-five countries currently subscribed to the Solemn Commitment are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Capo Verde, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe.