Italy turns to 'space diplomacy' in push for alliance with Africa

Hopes of new space launches from Kenya as part of Italian drive to tackle Mediterranean migration

Egypt was the most recent African country to launch a satellite after the experimental NExSAT, made with German help, was launched from China in February. Photo: Egsa

Italy wants to help develop Africa's space programme as part of a push to curb migration to Europe.

Spacecraft could be launched from an Italian-run space centre in Kenya under a partnership being discussed in Rome.

Egypt, Algeria and South Africa, as well as Kenya, are among the countries with existing space programmes that are viewed as key partners.

The Italian government hopes to strike deals with African countries that would give both sides access to sensitive knowledge.

What Italy calls "space diplomacy" is part the Mattei Plan project, designed to change its relationship with Africa from one of "charity" to "equal partnership".

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was elected on an anti-immigration platform, has made tackling the causes of human trafficking from Africa a key foreign policy priority.

An Italian-owned platform off Kenya's coast that was used to launch satellites during the Cold War could be put back into use. Photo: Nasa

With deals already in the works on food, raw materials and AI, the space push is seen as a chance for parts of Africa to gain skilled jobs and advanced technology.

The "strategic partnership" sought by Italy could extend to environmental monitoring, telecoms and training.

"Space activities play a fundamental role in the development and security of nations," said Alfredo Mantovano, an undersecretary of state to Ms Meloni, at a conference in Rome on Monday.

"Space technologies offer technical solutions that can enhance national capabilities in many sectors. Think of mapping and monitoring the territory."

However, without deals on classified information, Italy "cannot share its wealth of more advanced knowledge with its counterparts", he said.

He said Monday's talks were a chance for Italy and its African counterparts to start negotiations "to provide each other with the necessary tools".

Adolfo Urso, Italy's Business Minister, said a "priority objective" is to relaunch the Broglio Space Centre near Malindi, Kenya.

The site was used to launch Italian, US and British satellites during the Cold War but has not been used for space missions since 1988.

A deal on training and education at the site came into effect in 2020 but Kenya's Parliament was told last year there was "nothing much to show for it".

Representatives of Egypt, Somalia, Mozambique and the Republic of Congo were also invited for talks in Rome.

Egypt was the most recent African country to launch a satellite after the experimental NExSAT, made with German help, was launched from China in February.

South Africa and Egypt are Africa's joint leaders in the field with 13 satellite launches each, according to figures from Spacehubs Africa shown to diplomats on Monday.

Algeria and Morocco are among 13 others to have put satellites in space but Africa lacks its own launch pads and relies on those in the US, China or elsewhere. South Africa has a test site for demonstrators.

Egypt has been chosen as the headquarters for an African Space Agency as the continent looks to bring its activities under one roof.

The Italy-Africa space conference in Rome is part of the Mattei Plan to reset relations across the Mediterranean. EPA

Italy is not the only interested partner, with the US also keen on using its commercial space industry to drive development in Africa.

But Italy has made its efforts in Africa a particular priority and used its turn at the G7 presidency this year to sell the Mattei Plan to allies.

It scored a diplomatic win by getting G7 countries to jointly "welcome the Mattei Plan" and pledge to engage with Africa "in a spirit of equitable and strategic partnership".

Ms Meloni has put €5.5 billion ($6 billion) of investment on the table that includes loans, grants and reallocated funds from Italian climate and development budgets.

She has also offered 12,000 visas to Tunisian workers as a carrot as she aims to deport more illegal migrants back to Africa.

More than 150,000 people arrived in Italy from across the Mediterranean last year, the most since 2016, according to UN refugee agency UNHCR.

Many had travelled from West African countries such as Guinea and Ivory Coast. Almost 1,900 were reported dead or missing.

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