Ethiopia is sole African candidate for ICAO council
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Fanamc
Ethiopia is the sole African candidate for a seat on the International Civil Aviation Organization Council, with African Union backing. Addis Ababa highlights its aviation experience and strategic position, while the September BRICS summit declaration welcomed its candidacy, according to Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry cited by Fanamc.
Ethiopia is the sole African candidate for a seat on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to an update from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported by Fanamc. Addis Ababa wants to strengthen the continent’s representation in global aviation governance.
Ethiopia highlights its status as a founding member of ICAO and the African Civil Aviation Commission, as well as its experience in air safety, training and capacity-building. Its candidacy is supported by the African Union and was welcomed in the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the BRICS summit in September 2026, according to the ministry cited by Fanamc.
If elected, Ethiopia says it wants to promote safer and more secure aviation, strengthen international cooperation and support ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative. The organisation’s council oversees its policies between sessions of the Assembly, according to Fanamc.
An extraordinary session of the ICAO Assembly will be held on 19 and 20 November 2026 in Montreal, Canada, to elect four additional members. The council is then due to increase from 36 to 40 seats, according to Fanamc.
