Historic moment for Africa as the African Space Agency takes off
The African Space Agency was formally inaugurated on Sunday, 20th April 2025, during the NewSpaceAfrica Conference, gathering dignitaries worldwide, including ministers and ambassadors from variouscountries. At the event, Dr. Valanathan Munsami, former CEO of SANSA and Chair of the AU SpaceWorking Group, highlighted Africa’s unique opportunity to lead in the global space sector through unity,innovation, and sustainable development, giving some historical context to the creation of the AfricanSpace Policy and Strategy.Furthermore, the ceremony featured goodwill messages from top representatives of global spaceinstitutions, including Marco Ferrazzani, Director of Internal Services, European Space Agency (ESA),Karen Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), H.E. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General, UAESpace Agency, Jean-Marc Astorg, Director of Strategy, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales – CNES, Mr.KIKUCHI Koichi, the Deputy Director of International Relations and Research Department, JAXA (Japan),Dr Driss El-Hadani, Deputy Director, UNOOSA, Mr. Luca Maria Salamone, Director General of the ItalianSpace Agency, and others, reaffirming international support for Africa’s space ambitions.African national heads of space agencies from Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Angola, and Egypt, representingCentral, East, West, North, and Southern Africa, delivered remarks showcasing regional commitments tocollaborative space development. A significant highlight of the event was the official unveiling of theAfrican Space Agency logo and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AfSA and theEuropean Space Agency, during which the ESA gave a goodwill gift of the ESA flag that had been to spaceto the African Space Agency, marking the beginning of deeper institutional cooperation.At the inaugural event, high-level addresses from H.E. Mr. Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira, Minister ofTelecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication, Angola, Dr. Badr Abdelatty,Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Affairs, and H.E, Mr Moses Vilakati – Commissioner,Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) Department, AUC,reinforced the political will driving Africa’s space future. H.E. Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of theCouncil of the African Space Council, delivered the welcome address, while H.E. Ayman Ashour, Ministerof Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt, representing H.E. Prof. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, PrimeMinister of Egypt, delivered the keynote, emphasising the strategic importance of space to Africa’sdevelopment trajectory and the symbolism of the Egypt hosting the African Space Agency.The inauguration, hosted by Dr Temidayo Oniosun, Managing Director of Space in Africa, concluded witha symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially declaring the African Space Agency building operational.The event cemented Africa’s commitment to space sovereignty and continental integration andpositioned AfSA as a central institution in Africa’s science, technology, and innovation future.Photos of the event are available here, and a short video can be accessed here. All Photos & Videos ©Space in Africa. The agenda of the event is avai
