As part of one of our STARS projects radio equipment was donated to ESMT (Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunication) in Dakar Senegal, the first ITU Centre of Excellence. More than 14 African countries use this institute to train their future telecom engineers and future regulators for African Telecom authorities. The shack was officially opened by the Director General Mr. Mohamadou Saibouand and STARS Chairman Hans Welens ON6WQ. The equipment donated a few years ago was demonstrated to the audience. Malick Mbengue, Jean-Louis Pipien and Jules Dialo from ARAS gave some details about the installation as well as about the practical use of this station (HF and VHF).

At the same occasion IARU region 1 Vice-President Tafa Diop 6W1KI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dir ector General of ESMT. The ESMT training program now contains a module called “amateur radio”. It is agreed that both ESMT and IARU region 1 will closely co-operate at all levels and that they will exchange information on a regular basis. Both organization will have an observer status at each other’s meetings.