BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Equatorial Guinea has formally expressed its intention to join the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), a move that highlights the Central African nation’s growing commitment to regional aviation safety cooperation and the strengthening of its accident investigation capabilities.
The development emerged on the sidelines of the 42nd International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal on September 27, 2025, after a high-level meeting between the Commissioner of BAGAIA, Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh and Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Exemo. Sr. Narberth B. Monsuy Mane Andeme.
Also present was the country’s Permanent Representative to ICAO, Mr. Esono Anguesomo E.
Speaking after the meeting, BAGAIA Commissioner Erhueh confirmed that discussions revolved around modalities of membership under BAGAIA’s amended legal framework, which was revised in May 2025 to provide clearer entry pathways for new member states.
“The deliberations focused on the way forward as already provided in the legal instrument of BAGAIA.
“Equatorial Guinea’s interest is very encouraging, and their inclusion will undoubtedly strengthen our regional accident investigation mechanism. We look forward to welcoming them fully once the required obligations are met” Erhueh said.
Equatorial Guinea’s delegation lauded BAGAIA’s progress, particularly its recent cooperation agreement with the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), which they described as a landmark in building regional investigation capacity.
Monsuy Mane Andeme stressed that for Equatorial Guinea, joining BAGAIA was more than a formality—it was a strategic choice to improve safety oversight.
“Regional collaboration is the future of aviation safety in Africa. For us, BAGAIA represents a credible platform through which Equatorial Guinea can access expertise, technical resources, and structured training opportunities that will be essential in enhancing our national aviation safety framework,” the Minister said.
For Equatorial Guinea, the move also signals a deliberate shift towards building robust capacity for independent and professional accident and incident investigation, an area recognised globally as vital to preventing future occurrences and sustaining air transport reliability.
Aviation experts suggest that Equatorial Guinea’s eventual membership would broaden BAGAIA’s geographic footprint beyond its current West African stronghold, adding Central Africa to its operational scope.
Adding that It would also reinforce harmonisation efforts in line with ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), creating a more unified and consistent approach to safety investigations across the continent.
Observers further note that this development comes at a time when African states are increasingly embracing cooperative safety mechanisms, recognising that aviation safety challenges are best addressed through shared expertise and collective accountability.
If successful, Equatorial Guinea’s accession to BAGAIA will not only boost its domestic safety profile but also send a powerful signal of its long-term commitment to transparency, accountability, and international best practices in civil aviation.
