37 African Nations Launch AACS 2023 with U.S. Support

The Senegalese Air Force, along with the Association of African Air Forces sponsored by U.S. Air Forces Africa, officially kicked off the 12th annual African Air Chiefs Symposium with an opening ceremony, Feb. 28, in Dakar.

This year's AACS is co-hosted by Senegalese air force Brig. Gen. Pap Souleymane Sarr, Senegal air chief of staff, and U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander.

"The Association of African Air Forces is a great platform for us to gather and transform concepts into reality," Hecker said. "This forum, the African Air Chiefs Symposium presents a unique opportunity to confront key challenges that threaten a stable and prosperous Africa. Our open dialogue will address this year's theme of African Air Forces in the Fight Against Transnational Threats."

The African Air Chiefs Symposium is a multinational security cooperation initiative that features a diverse range of workshops as well as cultural activities. It is intended to foster more effective military relationships between participating nations.

The 38 participating nations include: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Uganda and the United States.

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