The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), perhaps the most successful regional economic community in Africa, at least until recently, turns fifty-one (51) on May 28, 2026. ECOWAS, which was established on 28 May 1975 was tasked with the goal of promoting economic and political integration among its member states. Specifically, ECOWAS Treaty offers a key summary of its vision: “promoting co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an Economic Union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of the peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations-among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African Continent.”

Dr. William Kiema’s new book asks one key question: Is a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) achievable? The book is a deep dive into the historical development of air transport in Africa. Throughout the book, the reader encounters numerous attempts towards a unified air transport market. However, this dream has been somewhat attainable but elusive. Africa is a continent rich in resources and wealth. There are diverse offerings from across the continent. These areas are primarily connected through road which, while cheap, are mismanaged and mostly unconnected.

With successful examples from regions such as the EU and Asia, African states have extended the African strategy of “using African solutions to Africa’s problems”, to air transport services in the continent. A major solution which was agreed upon by the African Union (AU) at its 24th Session was the liberalization of African skies through the establishment of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The SAATM is designed to implement the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999 which itself is a legacy of the 1988 Yamoussoukro Declaration. Although, considered a critical impetus to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the SAATM it is yet to be fully operationalized. This raises questions among others, on why the states have failed to fulfil their obligations under the YD, the philosophy behind the lack of political will by states, and prospects towards achieving the reality of a SAATM.

The Air Transport Industry in Africa: A Legal Analysis of the Single African Air Transport Market makes a significant and timely contribution by synthesizing these domains into a coherent analytical narrative. Across nine chapters, the book situates the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) not merely as a sectoral reform initiative, but as a continental economic governance project embedded within the broader African Union integration architecture.

It is such delight to introduce this Review Symposium on my book, The Air Transport Industry in Africa: A Legal Analysis of the Single African Air Transport Market, published by Routledge in 2025. Convened by Afronomicslaw, the leading blog on international law and international economic law issues relating to Africa and the Global South, the symposium brings together a distinguished group of scholars and practitioners in air law who constructively engage with the book’s arguments, scope, and contribution to African air transport law and regional integration debates.

In a joint statement released on 6 May 2026, the Republic of Guinea, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), and its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) announced that they had reached an agreement to “definitively” settle the disputes arising from the suspension of GAC’s activities and the interruption of Guinean bauxite supplies to EGA.

The News and Events category publishes the latest News and Events relating to International Economic Law relating to Africa and the Global South. Every week, Afronomicslaw.org receive the News and Events in their e-mail accounts. The News and Events published every week include conferences, major developments in the field of International Economic Law in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as relevant case law. News and Events with a Global South focus are also often included.

The News and Events category publishes the latest News and Events relating to International Economic Law relating to Africa and the Global South. Every week, Afronomicslaw.org receive the News and Events in their e-mail accounts. The News and Events published every week include conferences, major developments in the field of International Economic Law in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as relevant case law. News and Events with a Global South focus are also often included.

Since formally requesting debt treatment in early 2021 under the G20 Common Framework, Ethiopia has faced a protracted and uncertain restructuring five year-process marked by delays, creditor coordination challenges, and mounting economic pressures. The country’s economic vulnerabilities have been exacerbated by conflict, foreign exchange shortages, inflationary pressures, and declining investor confidence. Against this backdrop, the announcement on 3 April 2026 that Ethiopia had reached a debt treatment resolution with China represents a significant development, not only for Ethiopia’s restructuring process but also for broader debates on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the Common Framework. This update examines the details of the agreement, situates it within Ethiopia’s broader debt trajectory, and critically assesses what it reveals about the evolving global debt restructuring regime.

Nigeria is once again at a critical juncture in its debt trajectory, as mounting fiscal pressures, rising borrowing costs, and constrained access to conventional financing channels push the government toward increasingly complex and opaque instruments. Recent reports indicate that Nigeria is considering a $5 billion Total Return Swap (TRS) arrangement with First Abu Dhabi Bank, marking a significant shift in its debt management strategy. This development must be situated within a broader pattern of an increasing appetite for this credit derivative in the form of Total Return Swaps. Both Angola and Senegal have in the recent past also been reported to have entered into Total Return Swaps. These developments point to a deepening reliance on financial engineering solutions that may provide short term liquidity but carry significant long-term risks for fiscal stability and public accountability.