Brazzaville Celebrates 26th Anniversary of Yamoussoukro Decision
Addressing industry officials and leaders in Brazzaville on November 13, the Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and Merchant Marine, Ingrid Olga Ghislaine Ebouka-Babackas, opened the 26th commemoration of the historic Yamoussoukro Decision, reminding the audience that regional skies can boost trade, tourism, and employment when borders are open.
Her core message was direct: carriers registered in Congo must internalize national aviation ambitions and fully participate in the African Single Air Transport Market, known as SAATM, if the Republic of Congo wants to position itself as a credible and competitive player across the continent.
Fifth Freedom Routes Gain Momentum
Using data collected since SAATM’s activation in 2018, the Minister highlighted 108 new intra-African routes, with 19 benefiting from valuable fifth freedom rights, already operational, increasing market penetration from 15% in 2019 to 23% in 2024.
Brazzaville wants this ratio to reach 30% by 2027, a goal the ministry calls both ambitious and achievable if local operators invest in fleet renewal, expand cooperation agreements, and establish schedules matching cargo and passenger demand between secondary cities.
A Pillar of the AU’s Agenda 2063
The Yamoussoukro framework is one of the flagship projects of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, designed to reduce fares, stimulate competition, and improve service quality through a single regulatory regime.
Ebouka-Babackas stated that President Denis Sassou N’Guesso remains committed to this vision, citing the ongoing modernization of Maya-Maya International Airport and the Antonio-Agostinho-Neto platform in Pointe-Noire as proof of the state’s support for safer and more efficient operations.
Operators Urged to Comply with SAATM Standards
To benefit, Congolese airlines must demonstrate compliance with safety, security, and financial soundness benchmarks, the Minister noted, urging managers to adopt global best practices and proactively engage with the Civil Aviation Agency for timely certifications and route authorizations.
She described the domestic market as a springboard for regional expansion, emphasizing that punctuality, price transparency, and customer experience will determine whether travelers choose national carriers over foreign competitors that now serve more African destinations nonstop.
The ministry is preparing workshops to inform operators about maintenance planning, crew resource management, and digital ticketing—tools considered essential to satisfy International Civil Aviation Organization audits and to convince code-share partners that Congolese certificates are fully interchangeable.
Next Steps in Bilateral Air Service Reform
Officials emphasize that liberalization does not mean the end of oversight; safety inspectors will continue ramp checks and economic regulators will monitor anti-competitive behavior to ensure consumer benefits are tangible.
Under SAATM, member states are expected to amend existing bilateral air service agreements so that decisions on capacity, frequency, and fares fall to airlines rather than government quotas, gradually replacing disparate treaties with a harmonized continental regulation.
Ebouka-Babackas confirmed that Congo has initiated agreement revisions with other signatories, including Gabon, Chad, and the Central African Republic, with technical teams assessing how to integrate liberalized fifth freedom clauses without disrupting state revenue or airport fee structures.
Once revisions are complete, eligible African airlines will be able to schedule Brazzaville-Libreville-Abidjan sectors or Pointe-Noire-Ndjamena-Lagos rotations based on market logic, a change the ministry believes could unlock new freight corridors for Congolese agricultural and timber exporters.
Local private investors have begun exploring joint ventures with foreign lessors to introduce medium-capacity aircraft suited for Brazzaville-Ouagadougou or Pointe-Noire-Windhoek links, though financing terms remain subject to exchange rate stability and insurance costs.
Congo’s Ambition for a Continental Hub
Beyond paperwork, Brazzaville sees an opportunity in geography: the country straddles Central and West African trade routes, lies within three hours’ flight of 24 capitals, and offers refueling advantages at its Atlantic ports.
Officials therefore envision a multi-airport system, with Maya-Maya handling political and business traffic while Pointe-Noire also serves as a freight and maintenance base supporting the offshore hydrocarbons industry.
Aviation analysts present at the ceremony noted that such aspirations depend on stable fuel supply, competitive taxes, and rigorous flight crew training, but praised the government’s consultative tone.
A frequent flyer, Robert Mampouya, who commutes between Kinshasa and Abidjan via Brazzaville, said he looks “forward to the day I no longer need two stopovers,” illustrating the consumer appetite ministers hope to satisfy.
“If Congo maintains the current momentum, travelers could soon benefit from lower fares and more direct journeys,” said a delegate from the African Airlines Association, adding that predictable regulation remains vital for investors ordering aircraft or financing airport upgrades.
Momentum Toward the 2027 Milestone
For now, the Minister’s call for operators to adopt SAATM standards sends a clear signal: Congo intends to fly with, not behind, its continental peers, and is counting on local carriers to chart this course in an increasingly liberal African sky.
The next twelve months will therefore test the resolve of carriers and regulators. The schedules, partnerships, and airport slots forged during this period could set the tone for Congolese aviation for decades to come, offering the nation a chance to turn policy into profitable transport and strengthen its voice within SAATM.