Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jappie Mhango, has called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to support Malawi’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in building technical capacity for effective operations.
Mhango made the appeal during a meeting with ICAO President, Toshiyuki Onuma, on the sidelines of the Global Implementation Support Symposium 2026 in Morocco, noting that the Authority, established in October 2023, is operating with limited staff who require specialised training.
“Malawi Government is undertaking comprehensive transport sector reforms to support economic growth and regional integration. Aviation is a strategic priority, particularly for tourism, trade and connectivity as a land-linked country,” said Mhango.
He added that the CAA was established to ensure an independent and ICAO-compliant regulator, stressing the need for advanced training in safety oversight, aviation and air navigation.
In response, Onuma pledged ICAO’s support to Malawi under the “No Country Left Behind” initiative, indicating that assistance will be channelled through its regional structures.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Transport, Bright Kumwembe, held a separate meeting with ICAO Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, where he requested support for critical equipment to help the Authority meet international standards.
ICAO Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Director, Lucy Mbungua, said Malawi stands to benefit from regional collaboration.
“We have SADC Aviation Safety Organisation (SASO) and other states with capacity to support Malawi. What we are going to wait for is a formal communication from the Malawi Government so that we can properly plan,” said Mbungua.