On January 9, 2025, the President of
the Council of the African Space Agency (AfSA), Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, officially took office in a
momentous visit to Egypt.
Accompanied by Professor Sherif Sedky,
the President of the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), Dr. Ouattara paid a courtesy
call to Dr. Badr Abdelatty,
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, to mark this important
milestone for Africa’s space ambitions.
This
visit not only symbolizes the strengthening of the relationship between the African Space Agency and the Egyptian Space Agency, but also
marks a significant step toward achieving Africa’s broader development goals,
particularly as outlined in Agenda
2063, the African Union's blueprint for the continent’s growth
and integration.
During
the meeting, Minister Abdelatty
praised the outstanding performance of the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) and
emphasized the growing international cooperation between Egypt and other
countries in the space sector. He also highlighted Egypt's leadership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS) in the past year (June 2023 – June 2024), where the country
successfully led the committee to produce a consensus report adopted by all
member states during the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) sessions in October/November 2024.
In
addition to acknowledging Egypt's contributions to the space sector, Minister
Abdelatty conveyed a strong message of support for the African Space Agency's
mission. He congratulated Dr. Ouattara on assuming his duties and emphasized
the importance of the African Space Agency, which is hosted by Egypt, in
realizing Africa’s development objectives. Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed
Egypt’s full commitment to supporting the African Space Agency in its efforts
to serve the interests of African nations, particularly in the context of space
technology, satellite communication, and space exploration.
Dr. Ouattara expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and for
Egypt's steadfast support in advancing the mission of the African Space Agency.
He emphasized the vital role that collaboration with Egypt, as a key player in
the African and global space sector, will play in achieving Africa’s space
goals. The Egyptian government's full and unconditional support for the African
Space Agency’s work promises to bolster the continent’s collective efforts to
achieve greater success in space and technology innovation.
The
visit also underscores the African Space Agency's key role in fostering
collaboration and unity across the continent. As Dr. Ouattara embarks on this
leadership journey, the importance of partnerships between African nations and
international space agencies is paramount in charting a path forward for Africa
in space.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
