President Kagame pushes for removal of barriers to air transport across Africa

President Paul Kagame on Monday called for urgent reforms to strengthen air connectivity across Africa, saying the continent must move beyond decades of discussion and take concrete action to advance integration, trade and free movement. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the African Air Transport Convention and Expo 2026 in Lomé, Kagame said air connectivity is central to Africa's ability to act collectively and unlock its economic potential. "For decades, we have spoken about integration, trade and free movement. We know what has to be done. We just have to do it," he said. Kagame thanked the Government of Togo and President Faure Gnassingbé for hosting the convention and championing efforts to improve air transport across the continent. The Head of State noted that although Africa is home to nearly a fifth of the world's population, it accounts for only a small share of global air traffic. He attributed this gap to the high cost and difficulty of travel within Africa, observing that in many cases the fastest route between two African cities passes through another continent.