In a groundbreaking step toward technological autonomy and regional integration, the African Union (AU) has officially launched the African Space Agency (AfSA), headquartered in Cairo’s Egyptian Space City. The agency represents a major continental milestone in positioning Africa as an active player in the fast-growing global space economy.
Launched with the support of the Egyptian government, AfSA is poised to unify and accelerate Africa’s space-related activities under one strategic framework. It aims to transition Africa from a consumer of space-based technologies to a producer and innovator, focusing on satellite development, Earth observation, and connectivity for the continent's socio-economic transformation.
“AfSA is not just a technical body, it is a symbol of African unity and agency,” said Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Badr Abdel Aaty, at the inauguration. “It empowers us to speak with one voice on global space policy while investing in the capabilities that will determine the future of our youth.”
Africa’s involvement in space science has historically been fragmented, with countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya leading individual missions. Yet, despite 22 active space institutions, the continent has contributed only 1% to the global space sector and launched just 61 satellites. AfSA seeks to change that by pooling resources, coordinating missions, and aligning them with continental priorities.
AfSA’s mandate encompasses a broad range of applications—climate monitoring, disaster preparedness, agricultural planning, water management, disease surveillance, and remote education. These focus areas respond directly to Africa’s development goals and reflect an urgent need to reduce dependence on foreign satellite data.
The agency has already formalized international partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA), the UAE Space Agency, and Russia’s Roscosmos, aimed at supporting technology transfer, research collaboration, and institutional development.
By centralizing efforts, AfSA also aims to catalyse public-private investment and build a robust pipeline of African space professionals through education and capacity building. One of its long-term goals is to democratize access to space-enabled learning and healthcare services, especially in underserved and rural areas, using satellite infrastructure to close digital divides.
As the global space economy is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2040, AfSA marks Africa’s strategic bid to claim a larger stake in that future, one grounded in sovereignty, innovation, and sustainable development.
Article by RB Reporter
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