Introduction

Air transport system faces a number of threats. This is due to the fact there are political and economic frictions within and outside African States, making civil aviation one of the targets of terrorism. The threats are real and Africa indeed has not been immune from acts of unlawful interference in civil aviation. The following episodes demonstrate this fact:

• Four Eritreans evicted from Libya hijacked a C130 aircraft and forced it to land in Khartoum (2004).
• Air West B737 was hijacked over Sudan (2007);
• Air Mauritania B737 flight from Nouakchott was hijacked (2007);
• Sun Air B737 flying from Nyala in Sudan was hijacked shortly after take-off (2008).

Emerging Threats

There are a number of emerging threats facing civil aviation in the world. These include the use of aircraft as a weapon (September 11) and use of Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) as what happened at Moi International Airport (2002). Other reported incidents include liquid explosives that were to be carried on-board an aircraft across the North Atlantic as reported by UK Authorities (August 2004) and use of a small explosive device planned in Northwest Airlines (December 2009).  There is also a potential attack using bacteriological chemicals (or even nuclear substances), as well as computers used for Air Traffic Control (ATC) networks or aircraft.

Role Of ICAO

ICAO has tirelessly worked to identify and respond effectively and comprehensibly to new and emerging threats to civil aviation, in order to restore public confidence in air travel. Various actions initiated include the review of existing security standards (contained in Annex 17); establishment of a Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) and adoption of a Resolution on threat to civil aviation posed by MANPADS. With regard to MANPADS, all Contracting States are required to exercise strict and effective controls on import, export, transfer or retransfer as well as storage of MANPADs.  Also, States have been urged to take the all necessary measures to ensure the destruction of non-authorized MANPADs in their territory, as soon as possible.

ICAO further adopted security control guidelines for screening liquids, gels and aerosols (LAGs), reviewed existing Conventions and other air law instruments to determine whether they should be updated to address new and emerging threat as to civil aviation such as the use of aircraft as a weapon of destruction or the spread of biological, chemical or nuclear substances.

In 2010, ICAO Diplomatic Conference adopted two counter-Terrorism Treaties these included the Convention on suppression of unlawful acts relating to international aviation, and a supplementary Protocol to the 1970 Hague Convention for the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft. The new features of Beijing Instruments include criminalization of the use of civil aircraft on terror missions, discharge of BCN weapons and unlawful transport of BCN weapons, etc. The scope of the Convention includes threat to commit an offence, as well as giving assistance to offenders. Further, there is no discrimination allowed on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, among others.

Role of Contracting States

ICAO Contracting States have the task of putting in place, workable aviation security systems with measures that do not compromise the commercial basis of air transport. The Security System include, the establishment of aviation security legislations, operating regulations that give effect to the Chicago Convention; organize  oversight system function; train and deploy qualified security personnel; prepare and provide technical guidance material and tool; provide risk assessment information; implement certification and aviation.

Challenges

Although Africa's air transport system has been relatively secure in the recent past, there are challenges that face the continent. These include

• Absence of sufficient aviation security legal framework domesticating the international standards.
• Underdeveloped/less mechanized civil aviation infrastructure and facilities
• Shortage and or lack of security equipment to counter current security threats.
• Little awareness and laxity of States and operators to effectively implement security requirements domestically.
• Shortage or limited resources, adequately trained human resource and finance.
• Lack of well established and sustainable aviation security regimes and oversight systems to enforce national and international requirements and standards

Way Forward

Africa's air transport system under ICAO's leadership will better protect our continent from evolving terrorist threats. The States must implement 37th ICAO Assembly Declaration on Aviation Security to enhance international cooperation to counter threats to civil aviation. The required actions include:

1. Strengthening and promotion of effective application of ICAO standards and Recommended Practices, with particular focus on Annex 17 - Security and develop strategies to address current and emerging threats.
2. Strengthening of security screening procedures, enhancing human factors and utilizing modern technologies to detect prohibited articles and support research and development of technology for the detection of explosives, weapons and prohibited articles in order to prevent acts of unlawful interference.
3. Development of enhanced security measures to protect airport facilities and improve in-flight security, with appropriate enhancements in technology and training.
4. Development and implementation of strengthened and harmonized measures and best practice for air cargo security, taking into account the need to protect the entire air cargo supply chain.
5. Promotion of enhanced travel document security and the validation thereof using the ICAO Public Key Director in conjunction with biometric information, and the commitment to report on a regular basis, lost and stolen passports to the INTERPOL Lost and stolen Travel Documents Database to prevent the use of such travel documents for acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation.
6. Improvement of States' ability to correct deficiencies identified under their internal quality control and the Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) by ensuring the appropriate availability of audit results among AU and ICAO Member States, which would enable better targeting Capacity-Building and technical assistance efforts.
7. Provision of technical assistance to States in need, including funding, Capacity - Building and technology transfer to effectively address security threats to civil aviation, in cooperation with  other States, international organizations and industry partners.
8. Promotion of increased use of cooperation mechanisms among States and with the civil aviation industry, for information exchange on security measures in order to avoid redundancy, where appropriate, and for early detection and dissemination of information on security threats to civil aviation, including through the collection and transmission of advance passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) data, as an aid to security, whilst ensuring the protection of passengers' privacy and civil liberties.
9. Sharing of best practices and information in a range of key areas, such as: screening and inspection techniques, including assessments of advanced screening technology for the detection of weapons and explosives; document security  and fraud detection; behaviour detection and threat-based risk analysis; screening of airport employees; the privacy and dignity of persons; and aircraft security.
10. Also, the utilization of Africa's existing regional groupings such as SADC, EAC, ECOWAS, in creating and maintenance of sustainable security regimes by pooling together resources in development of aviation security associated technical guidance materials and training with a view to minimizing costs on individual State. The East African Community Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) is an example in this regard.

Conclusions

Africa's air transport system has remained relatively secure in the recent years despite many challenges. The security weak links need to be seriously addressed as they are prone to use by terrorist in achieving their ill wills.  Consequently, African States must act collectively and proactively in addressing the weak security links by establishing robust and sustainable security regimes that shall enhance security procedures for screening, ensure protection of airport facilities and correct deficiencies identified, undertake training aviation security personnel, cooperate in exchange of security information and share of best practices in aviation security.  Also, AFCAC must take the lead in ensuring that security related Conventions and Protocols are ratified by African states.