The African Space Agency was formally inaugurated on Sunday, 20th April 2025, during the NewSpace
Africa Conference, gathering dignitaries worldwide, including ministers and ambassadors from various
countries.
At the event, Dr. Valanathan Munsami, former CEO of SANSA and Chair of the AU Space Working 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 African Space Policy and Strategy.
Furthermore, the ceremony featured goodwill messages from top representatives of global space
institutions, including Marco Ferrazzani, Director of Internal Services, European Space Agency (ESA),
Karen Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), H.E. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General, UAE
Space 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 Italian
Space Agency, and others, reaffirming international support for Africa’s space ambitions.
African national heads of space agencies from Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Angola, and Egypt, representing
Central, East, West, North, and Southern Africa, delivered remarks showcasing regional commitments to
collaborative space development.
A significant highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the
African Space Agency logo and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AfSA and the
European Space Agency, during which the ESA gave a goodwill gift of the ESA flag that had been to space
to 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 of
Telecommunications, 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 the
Council of the African Space Council, delivered the welcome address, while H.E. Ayman Ashour, Minister
of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt, representing H.E. Prof. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime
Minister of Egypt, delivered the keynote, emphasising the strategic importance of space to Africa’s
development 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 with
a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially declaring the African Space Agency building operational.
The event cemented Africa’s commitment to space sovereignty and continental integration and
positioned AfSA as a central institution in Africa’s science, technology, and innovation future.
