The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority has participated in the 2026 African Drone Regulators Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, reaffirming the country’s commitment to drone technology, innovation, digital transformation and the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems.
Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Musayeroh Barrie, said the Authority proudly joined aviation regulators and industry stakeholders from 21 African countries at the forum, which was held on 10 September 2026 as part of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition.
Musayeroh Barrie described Sierra Leone’s participation as a demonstration of the country’s determination to embrace emerging aviation technologies while maintaining the highest standards of safety, security and regulatory oversight.
The forum formed part of the 10th edition of Aviation Africa 2026, held from 9 to 10 September at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi under the theme, “Advancing the Future of Autonomy in Africa.”
The two-day programme featured conference sessions, specialized forums and exhibition stands focusing on the practical requirements for expanding drone and autonomous systems operations across Africa.
Organisers reported that the African Drone Regulators Forum attracted 31 delegates from 13 civil aviation authorities, 54 industry stakeholders and representatives from 21 countries.
Participating civil aviation authorities included those from Sierra Leone, Kenya, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
The forum brought together officials responsible for developing and implementing drone policies and regulations across the continent. Participants shared regulatory frameworks, case studies and practical approaches to addressing common challenges affecting the safe deployment of unmanned aircraft systems.
The engagement was led by the founding Chairman of the African Drone Forum, Eno Umoh; Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission, AdeSewa Adeyemi; and Director General of the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Derrick F. Luembe.
The African Drone Forum returned for the second consecutive year as a strategic partner for the Drone and Autonomous Systems Programme at Aviation Africa. A major feature of the 2026 programme was the inaugural African Drone Regulators Forum, which served as the flagship regulatory session.
During the closed-door working session on the second day of the summit, civil aviation officials discussed ways of developing effective and harmonized regulatory frameworks for drone operations across Africa.
The first day featured the African Drone Security Forum, an open session that examined the growing relationship between drones, artificial intelligence and security. Discussions covered cooperation between civil aviation and security institutions, risk mitigation, detection and response mechanisms and the responsible application of emerging technologies.
Five industry panels also examined workforce development, beyond visual line-of-sight operations, enabling infrastructure, drone data and artificial intelligence, advanced air mobility and investment.
Eno Umoh said the inclusion of drones and autonomous systems within Aviation Africa reflected the changing nature of the continent’s aviation ecosystem.
According to Eno Umoh, discussions on autonomous aviation now extend beyond technology and regulation to include airspace integration, security, infrastructure, investment and operational preparedness.
Eno Umoh maintained that bringing regulators, industry leaders and other stakeholders together created an important opportunity to explore how autonomous aviation could be safely, responsibly and sustainably integrated across Africa.
The programme also placed strong emphasis on implementation beyond regulatory approval. Key areas included drone corridor design, electronic conspicuity, remote identification, coordination with air navigation service providers, supporting infrastructure and the development of sustainable business models.
The African Drone Forum’s Drone and Autonomous Systems Exhibition Pavilion operated throughout the two-day summit, bringing together African and international companies involved in drone technology, autonomous systems, data solutions and other supporting technologies.
Sierra Leone’s participation provided the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority with an opportunity to exchange knowledge with other regulators and strengthen partnerships aimed at promoting responsible innovation within the aviation sector.
Musayeroh Barrie reaffirmed that the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority will continue supporting innovation and digital transformation while ensuring that drone operations within Sierra Leone’s airspace are conducted safely, securely and in accordance with established regulatory standards.
