The President of the Republic, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, arrived in the French capital on Tuesday, where he will take part, at the invitation of his French counterpart, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, in the proceedings of the first International Space Summit, scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10, 2026.
Upon disembarking from the aircraft, the Head of State was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Abdoulkader Houssein Omar; the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Mr. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohamed Ali Hassan; as well as Mr. Yannick Favennec-Bécot, President of the France-Djibouti Friendship Group at the French National Assembly.
Upon his arrival in Paris, the President of the Republic was also welcomed by His Excellency Mr. Ayeid Mousseid Yahya, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to the French Republic, and His Excellency Mr. Jérôme Bresson, Ambassador of France to Djibouti, along with diplomats and senior officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti in France.
This first International Space Summit, in which the Head of State is participating in Paris, represents an unprecedented platform for dialogue and multilateral consultation.
The forum provides an opportunity for an in-depth examination of the challenges, prospects, and numerous applications that the space sector now encompasses.
The event brings together delegations from more than 120 countries, including Heads of State and Government, internationally renowned scientists, prominent economic stakeholders, as well as representatives of civil society.
The Head of State’s participation in this first International Space Summit highlights the Republic of Djibouti’s continued interest in new frontiers of scientific, technological, and economic cooperation, as well as in the transformations accompanying the emergence of these strategic fields.
It also reflects the unwavering determination of the President of the Republic to keep Djibouti at the heart of major international dynamics and to enable the country to fully benefit from new opportunities that can support its development and its opening to the sectors of the future.
It should be recalled that our country has made significant progress in this field, notably through the implementation of its national space program, which reached a historic milestone with the launch into orbit of its first satellite, DJIBOUTI-1A, in November 2023, followed by the launch of DJIBOUTI-1B in December 2024.
These two satellites, developed as part of Djibouti’s space program, are intended to contribute to the collection and use of meteorological, climatic, and environmental data, which are useful for understanding the national territory, managing water resources, and monitoring climate-related phenomena.
This momentum reflects the Republic of Djibouti’s commitment to investing in advanced science and technology and progressively strengthening its national capabilities in the space sector, while promoting the training of a new generation of Djiboutian expertise in space engineering and technologies.
Ultimately, Djibouti intends to establish its space ambitions within a long-term perspective, making technological mastery and the use of space data key tools in support of its sovereignty, sustainable development, and preparedness for the challenges facing the country.