Tunisia Hosts 15th Forum of African Air Chiefs of Staff

Tunis, [Date] - The Tunisian Minister of National Defense, Khaled Sehili, announced on Wednesday that the 15th Forum of African Air Chiefs of Staff is part of Tunisia's efforts to strengthen common action among African countries and promote military cooperation, taking into account the shared destiny and challenges.

The minister emphasized that the security and stability of the continent require an effective, efficient, and collaborative approach in this field. Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the forum, organized jointly by the Tunisian Air Force and the US Air Forces Africa, the minister explained that this event is not only a technical meeting but also a strategic platform to examine ways to develop African cooperation and strengthen military capabilities to follow rapid changes and current challenges.

This is an important opportunity to address several issues related to the operational reality of African air forces, including the tracking of technological developments, modernization of air fleets, development of training methods, and exploitation of artificial intelligence and databases to improve command, control, and communication systems, with a particular focus on space and cyber domains, he noted.

The minister added that this event will also allow participants to discover the capabilities of the Tunisian Air Force in the fields of training and education within educational institutions and specialized military centers, as well as their compliance with the latest international standards, reaffirming Tunisia's willingness to continue its openness to its African environment.

He also emphasized that Tunisia will continue to open its training institutions to the armies of brother and friendly countries to promote the exchange of expertise and showcase Tunisian experience, with the aim of establishing a regional center for training and education in military aviation.

The Minister of Defense also welcomed the support of international partners, including the United States, to African efforts in this field, calling for further strengthening of cooperation based on trust and mutual respect, in the service of African continent security and stability.

From his side, the Chief of Staff of the Tunisian Air Force, General Mohamed Hajjem, emphasized that the forum is designed to provide essential elements to follow new realities and their current and future challenges, as well as to face effectively the threats and challenges weighing on African security, stability, and airspace safety.

He specified that the forum, themed "Optimizing the Operational Potential of African Air Forces," is primarily based on the importance of training and education. He also stated that the realization of the meeting's objectives requires the development and strengthening of the mechanisms of work of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF), as well as the support and accompaniment of its strategic partners in this field.