By Akram Medhat
The Regional Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation Security in Africa and the Middle East kicked off today in Sharm El-Sheikh, which is hosting it from August 22 to 24 under the theme of the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP).
The conference is attended by about 350 high-profile figures, including ministers of transport and civil aviation, heads of civil aviation authorities in Africa and the Middle East, and heads and representatives of international and regional aviation organizations, as well as ICAO directors Mohamed Khalifa Rahma, Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East; Barry Kashambo, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa; and Mam Sait Jallow, Regional Director for Western and Central Africa.
The conference is discussing many important issues, particularly the outcomes of the 39th session of the ICAO Assembly and a review of the results of UN Security Council Resolution 2309, the first of its kind on countering terrorist threats to civil aviation, one year after its adoption. It is also addressing the preparation of a global aviation security plan, the development of the security field and the global challenges and risks it faces, the use of high technology in surveillance, how to handle the aviation security file in Africa and the Middle East, the move toward exchanging expertise and information, and a regional action plan and the public policies related to its implementation in Africa and the Middle East.
In this context, Eng. Hany El-Adawy, head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, expressed in his opening speech his pleasure at Egypt being chosen to host this important conference, stressing that Egypt is keen to comply with all standards agreed by ICAO in cooperation with other international organizations, for the continuous development of internationally agreed security procedures, as well as to raise the efficiency of personnel in the security system at its airports.
El-Adawy explained the working paper Egypt is presenting at the conference, titled "Risks of Cyberattacks", and their impact on civil aviation security, as well as the efforts made to counter cybersecurity threats, in light of statistics showing a rise in the number of cyberattacks on the aviation sector, and the need to study the establishment of a mechanism for exchanging expertise, especially in security fields.
El-Adawy continued: "In addition to assessing security risks and border control, exchanging modern technologies and innovative techniques that enhance the ability to detect explosives inside airports, and the immediate addressing of any gaps or weaknesses at airports at the international and regional levels."
The opening session of the conference also included speeches by Boubacar Djibo, Director of ICAO's Air Transport Bureau, and Ali Tounsi, Director of Airports Council International for the Africa region.
It is worth noting that the conference aims to discuss the Global Aviation Security Plan and prepare a roadmap to strengthen it, benefit from best practices in improving security cooperation, and encourage and support security initiatives in coordination with member states and international organizations, as well as exchange security information and expertise to reduce risks and overcome safety challenges between countries, in coordination with ICAO and through positive cooperation, with the aim of improving and increasing the effectiveness of aviation security at the regional and international levels.
Some representatives of international and regional bodies and organizations will contribute working papers on security projects implemented in some countries around the world, explaining the positive lessons learned from them for application at the African and Arab levels.
At the end of the conference, the recommendations of the participating experts and specialists are to be announced in the form of a roadmap for enhancing and developing civil aviation security in Africa and the Arab region.
