Italian Universities and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini traveled to Djibouti to launch a new phase of cooperation on scientific research and higher education, underscoring Rome’s effort to strengthen long-term partnerships in the Horn of Africa through the Mattei Plan.
The visit also highlighted the growing role of digital infrastructure and technological cooperation in Italy’s engagement with one of the world’s most strategically located countries.
Why it matters: Italy is increasingly combining science diplomacy, technological cooperation and infrastructure resilience in its engagement with Africa.
Zoom in: Science diplomacy. During the mission, Bernini launched a framework for cooperation with Djibouti in scientific research and higher education.
A strategic digital hub. Bernini also visited Djibouti’s submarine telecommunications cable landing station, where she was briefed on a project promoted by the Med-Or Italian Foundation to strengthen the capacity of Djiboutian authorities to inspect and protect subsea telecommunications infrastructure.
Why Djibouti matters: Located at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti has become one of the world’s key digital connectivity hubs.
The bottom line: Bernini’s visit reflects Italy’s effort to broaden its partnership with Djibouti by combining research, education and digital infrastructure into a wider strategy for engagement in the Horn of Africa.
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