AFRAA’S RELENTLESS LOBBYING PROMPTS AFRICAN UNION TO YIELD ON THE YAMOUSSOUKRO DECLARATION
(Posted 04th February 2015)
Over the past few weeks have the challenges been highlighted which African airlines face when seeking to fly to other African countries, Bilateral Air Services Agreements, in short BASA’s often notwithstanding, leave alone when seeking traffic rights under fifth freedom arrangements.
AFRAA, the African Airline Association based in Nairobi, has for many years been at the forefront to lobby African governments to lessen tax burdens, reduce fees, improve aviation infrastructure, enhance training facilities and most important, implement fully the Yamoussoukro Declaration, which has been signed in October 1988 and was due to come in force by 2002.
Today, 15 years later, have the thresholds in many countries in fact been raised to prevent competition and have airlines, often from neighbouring countries partnering in economic blocs, kept away to protect their own.
The result have been fares costing passengers a multiple of what they otherwise pay when flying for instance to Europe, the Gulf, Asia and even America, leaving consumers exasperated and airline executives frustrated.
It is therefore with some degree of satisfaction that I can report today that AFRAA’s relentless lobbying efforts have born fruits at the latest African Union Summit last week in Addis Ababa, when 11 of the 53 AU member states re-committed themselves to have YD implemented by 2017, a mere 15 years beyond the second deadline set for 2002. Others are expected to join in due course, though there has been no indication when that will happen or if in fact all remaining AU members will embrace the resolution.
AFRAA has kindly made the full text of the declaration available which is copied here for the benefit of readers:
SOLEMN COMMITMENT BY AFRICAN UNION MEMBER STATES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YAMOUSSOUKRO DECISION TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SINGLE AFRICAN AIR TRANSPORT MARKET BY 2017
We, the Heads of States and Governments of the Member States of the African
Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 2015 to deliberate on the establishment of a single air transport market and commit on the modalities for the pursuit and acceleration of its implementation,
Considering the Constitutive Act of the African Union, adopted on 11 July 2000 in Lomé, Togo, in particular Articles 14, 15 and 16 which entrust the African Union Commission with a coordination mission in the Transport, Communication and Tourism sectors;
Further Considering the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty) in particular Article 61 relating to the integration of air transport and Article 10 relating to the Authority of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government to adopt decisions;
Recognising the relevance of the objective of the Yamoussoukro Declaration on a new African civil aviation policy adopted on 7 October 1988 whose primary purpose was to create a conducive environment for the development of intra-African and international air services;
Noting the Executive Council Decision Relating to the Implementation ofthe Yamoussoukro Decision Concerning the Liberalisation of Access to Air Transport Markets in Africa (the Yamoussoukro Decision) adopted by the Council Decision CM/2178 (LXX11) of 8th July 2000 as endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government by Decision AHG/OAU/AEC/Dec.1 (IV) of 12th July 2000 in Lomé, Togo and which entered into force on 12th August 2000 calling for full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision within two years by 2002;
Recalling the African Ministers Responsible for Air Transport, meeting in Sun City, South Africa, from 18th to 19th May 2005 expressing serious concerns about the delay in the implementation of the Decision, and taking note of progress some states have made in that regard, called for measures that will ensure effective implementation including the establishment of the African Air Transport Executing Agency (Executing Agency) provided for in the Yamoussoukro Decision under the auspices of the African Union;
Respectful of the Assembly Decision /AU/Dec.394 (XVIII) adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government during its 18th Ordinary Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29th and 30th January 2012 on boosting Intra-African Trade and Fast Tracking the Continental Free Trade Area;
Bearing in Mind ofthe Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.821(XXV) of 26th June 2014 placing the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on the Liberalisation of Air Transport Markets in Africa and more particularly the establishment of a single African aviation market in the context of the African Agenda 2063;
Cognisant of the outcome of the Africa-wide meeting on air transport organised jointly by the AUC, AFCAC and AFRAA in Nairobi, from 29 to 31 October 2014 which completed the validation of the regulatory and institutional texts for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and recognising their endorsement by the Executive Council Decision, EX.CL/Draft/Dec.9(XXVI)28th January 2015 ;
Mindful of the globalisation of the world economy and the need to create a conducive environment for the development and provision of safe, reliable and affordable air transport services necessary for the free movement of persons, goods and services in Africa;
Taking into Account the importance of enhancing cooperation among African airlines in order to stimulate the development of inter-African air transport and the need to improve the quality of service to consumers through full liberalisation of African air transport markets;
Recognising the necessity to adopt measures with the aim of establishing a liberalised intra-African aviation market concerning the Single African Air Transport Market;
Convinced that, given the different levels of air transport development in Africa, it is necessary to endorse the Pretoria Communiqué issued by the Ministerial Working Group on Air Transport on 21st January 2015 which will lead towards full continental open sky intra-African operations by Africa airlines in January 2017;
Determined to acceleratethe implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on the liberalisation of air transport markets in Africa,
Aware of the strong commitment already shown by a number of Member States in spearheading the liberalisation of the air transport markets throughout the continent and encourage others to follow suite.
We hereby,
1. Express our commitment to the immediate implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision towards the establishment of a single african air transport market and open our air transport market to each other;
2. Entrust the AU Commission to coordinate and facilitate the process of operationalisation of the Single Air Transport Market in Africa; and to report to the Conference of Ministers of Transport .
3. Develop regulatory frameworks to expedite the implementation of the single air transport market and engage all specialized institutions in Aviation Sector to support Member States in this process.
4. Report to the Union on the progress made in the implementation and operationalization of the single African Air Transport market.
The following Member States hereby declare their solemn commitment to the immediate implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision towards the establishment of a single African Air Transport market by 2017. These Member States will be constituted as a working group at Ministerial Level in order to achieve its goal and it will remain open to those that will join later.
List of Countries
1. Benin
2. Cape Verde
3. Congo Republic
4. Cote d’Ivoire
5. Egypt
6. Ethiopia
7. Kenya
8. Nigeria
9. Rwanda
10. South Africa
11. Zimbabwe
It was also confirmed that Morocco has already agreed to join the 11 bringing together the main aviation powers on the continent, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco which national airlines – Nigeria does not have a national carrier at present but a number of privately owned airlines – make up the bulk of passengers carried and number of aircraft operated on the African continent. Notably absent from Eastern Africa were Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. AFRAA expressed their ongoing commitment to lobby the AU member governments to grant unrestricted access, including for fifth freedom rights, for African airlines and reduce the cost burden to make flights more affordable for greater numbers of African travellers.
Added information about AFRAA’s policies and programmes can be accessed by clicking on www.afraa.org
