The 5th African Air Forces Forum will be held in December 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, hosted by the Côte d’Ivoire Air Force, bringing together regional and international air power leaders to address evolving security challenges across the continent. Building on the momentum of last year’s landmark discussions on national security, counter-terrorism operations, peacekeeping missions, and advanced technologies, this year will serve as a strategic platform to enhance operational capabilities, foster bilateral and multilateral defence partnerships, and address the growing role of air forces in Africa’s internal security, border surveillance, and peace stabilization initiatives.

Join us in Abidjan alongside Africa’s Air Force Chiefs, government leaders, international defence partners, and global technology providers to shape the future of African air defence cooperation and accelerate regional readiness for new security realities.

KEY HAPPENINGS

🍽️ Exclusive VIP Dinner

An exclusive, closed-door VIP Dinner will be hosted for Air Force Chiefs, senior air power commanders, and defence leadership from African and non-African Air Forces as part of the 5th AAF 2026. This high-level gathering provides a discreet setting for strategic dialogue, peer-to-peer engagement, and the development of long-term cooperation among air forces.

🎀 Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will officially mark the commencement of the 5th AAF 2026 and will be attended by senior government officials, Ministers of Defence, Air Force Chiefs, and military leaders from across Africa and the international defence community, with over 700+ local, regional, and international delegates in attendance.

🎤 International Conference

As one of Africa’s leading air powers and defence forums, the 5th AAF 2026 International Conference will feature high-level case studies, strategic panel discussions, and operational briefings delivered by Air Force leadership, policymakers, international defence experts, and aerospace technology leaders. The conference will address air power modernisation, airspace security, ISR, unmanned systems, interoperability, training, and future force development supporting a collective vision to strengthen Africa’s air force capabilities in response to evolving security challenges.

✒️ International Exhibition

The International Exhibition will showcase the latest aerospace and air defence technologies, platforms, and solutions for Air Forces, including aircraft systems, ISR, UAVs, air defence, C2, MRO, training, and digital transformation. The exhibition is designed to enable direct engagement between senior air force leadership and leading global defence and aerospace solution providers.

🍸 Cocktail & Canapé Reception

A formal Cocktail & Canapé Reception will bring together Air Force Chiefs, VIP guests, senior officers, ambassadors, and international delegations in an elegant and relaxed setting. This reception is designed to encourage informal engagement, networking, and relationship-building among senior air power stakeholders ahead of the conference sessions.

☕ Private One-to-One Meetings

Structured private one-to-one meetings with senior Air Force leadership will be organised to facilitate focused discussions between African Air Forces and global defence and aerospace technology providers, supporting capability development, force modernisation, and strategic partnerships.