MUTAA ; Towards a New Horizon for African Aviation: When ACO and AFRAA Unite Their Voices After the Pan-African Forum in Lomé

The President of the Board of the African Consumers Organization (ACO), Daouda Elhadj Adam, had the honor of meeting Mr. Abdourahmane Berthe, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), a partner of the second Pan-African summit held in Lomé in 2024. This meeting provided an opportunity for the ACO Chairman to emphasize the importance for consumer citizens of implementing the African Single Air Transport Market (MUTAA), a flagship initiative of the African Union aimed at transforming the continental air sector through deregulation and the opening of markets to regional and transnational competition.
At the heart of discussions was the need to accelerate the implementation of MUTAA during this phase of the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). MUTAA is designed to liberalize air services, promote freedom of movement, and harmonize safety standards and the protection of African consumers. However, despite the adhesion of 39 African states to this regional initiative, challenges remain, including the lack of information on the benefits of MUTAA, the fragility of African national airlines, the absence of consolidation prospects for these airlines similar to groups like KLM, the weakness of national airport infrastructure, etc.

The implementation of MUTAA could reduce ticket costs by up to 25% and strengthen intra-African connectivity. Yet it is still often easier today for an African to travel via Europe or the Middle East than to obtain a direct flight on the continent. The forum held on September 5 and 6, 2024, in Lomé highlighted the urgency for reinforced collaboration, shared commitment, and investment mobilization, including the announced $30 billion to modernize airports and navigation systems by 2030.

For the President of the ACO, the success of MUTAA depends on taking into account the real needs of consumers and local operators, notably ensuring safety and quality of service, reducing regulatory and tax barriers that still hinder mobility and inclusion.

Both parties welcomed the ECOWAS states' decision to reduce taxes on airline tickets by 25% starting January 1, 2026. The ACO and AFRAA intend to continue this collaboration by pooling their efforts to advocate for the actualization of MUTAA, notably the reduction of taxes and regulatory and tariff barriers that travelers face.

The acceleration of African airspace integration calls for active mobilization of stakeholders, including states, airlines, consumer organizations, and regional institutions such as the African Development Bank, NEPAD, etc.

The ACO thus commits to representing the voice of African consumer citizens, defending their right to accessible, safe, and innovative air transport, and supporting the profound transformation of the sector.
African skies are within reach. Sustained collaboration between the ACO and key stakeholders like the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and AFRAA will embody the ambition of a finally connected, competitive, and united Africa, where every traveler will benefit from the fruits of a major reform, making aviation a true vector of development and regional integration.