'Africa is Taking its Place in the World': Comoros President on Russian-African Space Projects

10:54, 27 July 2023

Gleb Chugunov

Recently, Russia's Roscosmos has announced plans to boost its space partnership with African countries and sign appropriate agreements during the Russia–Africa Summit. Moreover, Russia proposed that BRICS create a separate specialized module for the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS) for the bloc's countries to conduct scientific research.

Sputnik

Whatever its place, be it in space, the most important thing is for Africa to occupy an important position on the international stage, and for it to have the education required for its development, African Union President and Comoran head of state Azali Assoumani told Sputnik Africa, commenting on Moscow's offer to African countries to participate in the creation of a Russian orbital station.

"It's part of the process of Africa taking its place in the world," the official said. "Indeed, this project that we're thinking about in Africa, the partner with whom we can see how together we can go into space. So there's an outline of what Africa stands to gain by going into space".

According to Assoumani, "going into space" is very important, "it can enlighten Africa, reassure Africans, especially young Africans", and also "motivate them to move forward".

"Because today, if an African goes up to the sky [goes into space], people will encourage each other to work. And that can actually ensure that we have the expertise, that we have this education," he stressed.

The leader believes that in the fields of education and health, Comoros needs Russia, which was there to make up for the lack of universities when France unilaterally ended its cooperation with the country after independence.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Russia May Build Station for Receiving Satellite Data in South Africa: Russian Space Agency Head

25 July 2023, 09:13

"So Russia made up for it with other countries, such as the Maghreb countries of Morocco and Algeria. There are now people who have been trained in Russia in the Comorian administration or anywhere else," he added.

Assoumani is betting on education and health as part of the Comoros' policy of emergence by 2030.

For him, whatever the resources, we need trained people to maintain relations with our partners today.

"When a Russian partner comes to the Comoros, you need Comoran experts to work with him, because he doesn't know the realities of the country. So the trained Comoran is going to capitalize on his coming because he's going to tell him what to do and what not to do. Countries that are developed, it's not because they have oil, [...] but also people, young people who are trained and above all imbued with the spirit of patriotism in the country, for the interest of their country. And that's what we need: education and health", concluded the Comoran head of state.