The Minister of Transport, Mr. Jean Ernest Masséna NGALLE BIBEHE, held an important meeting with Mr. Romain EKOTO, Director of the Regional Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Western and Central Africa (WACAF), on Thursday, May 28, 2026, as Cameroon prepares for this major event.

This high-level meeting was attended by key aviation leaders: Mrs. Paule ASSOUMOU KOKI, Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA); Mr. Thomas Owono Assoumou of Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC); Mr. Jean Christophe Ela Nguema of Camair-Co; Mr. Eugène APOMBI of the Central African Aviation Safety Oversight Agency (ASSA-AC); and Mr. Felix Samey Priso, Representative of ASECNA in Cameroon. The session was part of a dialogue and assistance mission aimed at mobilizing Cameroonian authorities to confront the sector’s major challenges.

The mission’s objective is to explore ways to improve aviation safety and security, while ensuring coherent and harmonious sectoral development. It also seeks to identify additional support that the Regional Office could provide to facilitate Cameroon’s preparation for ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), scheduled from November 26 to December 9, 2026.

During the meeting, the Regional Director reaffirmed his Office’s commitment, along with other regional safety oversight bodies, to support Cameroon in achieving high performance during the audit. The national leaders present also pledged to work with determination to meet the targets set in the Global Aviation Safety Plan, namely, achieving a rate of implementation of atleast 75%.

Following this audience, the Regional Director will meet with the Prime Minister, Head of Government, on Friday, May 29, 2026, to review the cooperation between Cameroon and ICAO.

For context, Cameroon became a member state of ICAO on January 15, 1960, shortly after independence, by ratifying the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Trans: MKG/ARO-PRU