"the vast majority of mishaps did not involve scheduled passenger flights and maintained that commercial air service, particularly on international routes, was safe"
We can't agree with that if we look at the accidents involving Flash, UTA, Sudan Airways, Air Algérie, Kenyan Airways etc etc...
In Africa, not only freighters or light aircraft are unsafely operated and in an unsafe environement, but the vast majority of airliners as well, with some exceptions of course, but European or Asian airliners are also face with ATC and infrastructure problems in Africa.
Cheers,
BJ