1280 0Collaboration among African Air Forces is critical to strengthening collective air power, enhancing interoperability and building a shared capacity to respond effectively to humanitarian emergencies and disasters. It is against this backdrop that the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) is preparing to conduct its inaugural Command Post and Field Training Exercise (AAAFEX CPX/FTX), scheduled for 2027 in Kenya. As part of the preparations, representatives from 15 AAAF member countries, alongside the United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, convened for the Mid Planning Conference at a hotel Nairobi from 3 to 7 August 2026. “The success of AAAFEX will depend on our ability to plan together, challenge our assumptions and refine our procedures. The Mid Planning Conference marks an important step towards transforming the AAAFEX concept into a credible multinational capability, while reinforcing the principle behind the exercise name, “Nguvu Pamoja” — collective strength.